Α naturally sweet desert wine from sun dried grapes that has a beautiful amber color with a dark brown hue. Intoxicating aromas of thyme honey, dried raisins and fig as well as coffee beans. A velvet and rich mouthfeel with a warm and long aftertaste. Served as an aperitif or desert wine, ideal with soft and hard smoked cheeses, fresh fruit, vanilla ice cream, crème brule, or a fine cigar. Serve chilled at 7-10°C.

Grape Varieties: 80% Assyrtiko and 20% Aidani
Region: Santorini
Country: Greece
Classification: PDO Santorini – Protected Designation of Origin Santorini
Category: Naturally sweet desert wine from sun dried grapes

Vineyards
All the fruit for Vinsanto Boutari 12 comes from the volcanic and sandy soils of Santorini island. The vines are 50-60 years old and are cane pruned trained in a woven basket called “Kouloura”.

Winemaking
All grapes were selected from specific vineyards and hand-picked relatively late during harvest. The grapes were then traditionally layed out in the sun for 15 days in order to achieve the required amount of sugar level and pH. The grapes were then pressed to obtain a highly viscous juice full of flavor that was fermented using a specific strain of yeast with tolerance to high alcohol at low temperatures. Alcoholic fermentation stops naturally and then ageing in oak barrels begins for the next 12 years until it was bottled. The barrels were continually monitored and topped up to avoid any oxidation problems.

Latest Awards and Wine Reviews

Vintage 2002 “12 years old”
Gold Award International Wine Competition Thessaloniki, Greece (2017)

Vintage 2008 Wine Advocate 92 points
Wine Advocate #206, reviewed by Mark Squires (May 2013)

The 2008 Vinsanto was bottled in 2012 from sun dried grapes (90% Assyrtiko, 10% Aidani) after two years of barrel aging. For what amounts to fairly young Vinsanto, this is superb. This is not terribly concentrated or rich, but the acidity is mouthwatering, making this invigorating and often exciting as well as delicious. It is zesty, very fresh and perhaps even a touch shrill when too cold. But there is an utterly scrumptious and very intense finish, with the acidity ramming home the sugar and fruit, dribbling their pure flavor and sweetness over the palate as the mouth waters. Ultimately, I liked this a lot. German wine lovers may gravitate to it, given that tension between fruit, sugar and acidity. The 14.5% alcohol gives this some wallop at times, but that may be an issue for the future, if it is one. There were 3,333 cases produced.