Parparoussis, Mavrodaphne of Rio Patras, Greece 2004 (500ml)

Athanasios Parparoussis started his eponymous winery in 1973, in Patras, northwestern part of Peloponese in southern Greece. Now, assisted by his daughters, Dimitra and Erifili who are working alongside Athanasios to keep the family legacy. 

The family vineyards are located in the northern suburbs of Patras- locally known as Bozaitika- as well as in Movri, Achaias, southwest from the city of Patras, Greece's third largest city after Athens and Thessaloniki. In addition to their own vineyards, they work with other growers through long term contracts to source fruit. 

In the vineyard, apart from a little Cabernet Sauvignon that they use to make a rosé wine, they work exclusively with indeginous Greek grape varieties, such as the local  specialties, Mavrodaphne and Muscat, the rather obscure Sideritis, as well as Agiorgitiko from Nemea, further west in Peloponesse. 

In the winery, they use French Barriques for aging, holding the wine in oak for about 21 years before bottling.