Thymiopoulos 2017 Rapsani 'Terra Petra'

Presumably, the Greek gods could have chosen to live in any wine region, yet they picked Rapsani high up Mount Olympus. Is that worth more than 100 points from Robert Parker? This is a wild frontier in Greek winemaking. As well as an unbeatable address on Zeus's doorstep, it has 800m of elevation, vineyards up to a century old, and the best red grape variety in Greece (Xinomavro). Yet it is only just coming to the attention of the outside world.

It's no surprise to find the tireless Apostolos Thymiopoulos up here. His wines from further north (Naoussa), were groundbreaking, and this Rapsani is another another classic in the making. Full-bodied, slightly smoky, with ripe red fruit, it's softer and more rounded than his other reds, but has just as much depth.