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Great Mother Red

Great Mother Red - Stilianou Organic Winery - Kounavoi, Heraklion, Crete - Mandilari - Red Natural wine - Eklektikon

The most stubborn and tannic indigenous Cretan variety, Mandilari, in a flash-maceration vinification, named after Great Mother, the mother goddess of the ancient Minoans.

  • Grower: Stilianou
  • Vintage: 2022
  • Type: Light Red Dry Wine
  • Grapes: Mandilari 100%
  • Appellation: PGI Crete
  • Alcohol: 13.50%
  • Bottle: 750ml
  • Viticulture: Dry, Certified Organic
  • Vinification: Soft press, one-day skin contact, wild fermentation and ageing in stainless steel tank and in bottle
  • Tasting Notes: Rustic charm and quiet depth. Aromas unfold with worn leather, wild forest fruit, and ripe plum. On the palate, it’s grounded and earthy, with smooth tannins and a dark-fruited core, leading to a dry, gently spiced finish. A wine that speaks softly but carries the soul of its place.
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Key Info

Viticulture

  • Dry, Certified Organic
  • Climate: Mediterranean
  • Soil: Limestone with some rock
  • Vine age: Planted between 1995 and 2005
  • Altitude: 300-350m
  • Slope: 10-15%
  • Planting density: 3,500 plants / ha
  • Yield: 3 kg / plant
  • Irrigation: None
  • Spraying: None
  • Harvesting: Manually

Vinification

  • Maceration: 1-day skin contact
  • Pressing: Soft press
  • Temperature control: None
  • Fermentation: 15 days in stainless steel tank with indigenous yeast
  • Malolactic: Naturally completed
  • Maturation: 1 year in stainless steel tank and 1 year in bottle
  • Clarification: None (Natural sediment)
  • Filtration: None
  • Production: 2,000 lt
  • Alcohol: 13.50%
  • Acidity: 6.80 gr/l
  • RS: 1.0 gr/l
  • Total sulfites: 40.0 mg/l
  • Certification: Organic grapes
  • Bottle: 750ml

Winery

Giannis Stilianou and his teenage son, personally tend to their 3 hectares of organic vineyards, planted only with indigenous Cretan varieties. There is no irrigation or any kind of spraying. The vines are stressed under the hot, Cretan Sun, and then cooled off by the mountain breeze. This shows in the impressive concentration and intense aromatics of the artisanal Stilianou wines.

Region

Crete is the biggest island of Greece, and home to one of the most impressive ancient civilizations, the Minoan.

Heraklion, the fourth largest Greek city and largest city of Crete, is located in the center of the island. It is very picturesque and full of ancient ruins in and around it, spanning thousands of years and many different civilizations, including the Minoan, Byzantine, Venetian, and Arab.

South of Heraklion lies Knossos, the most famous ancient city of Minoan times, with the well preserved and famous homonymous palace, with its bright red pillars and wall art of the time.