By George Kassianos
I really love visiting Amargeti village east of Paphos. There is a folklore and art museum and a beautiful square to enjoy your Cyprus coffee, while a tavern just outside the village produces interesting craft beer and olive oil. On top of that there is Kalamos winery with some very good wines and Zivania.
Kalamos winery is the complete winery as far as the product range is concerned: dry and medium-dry whites and rosés, dry reds and sweet Commandaria as well as Zivania plain or oak aged. Nicos Ignatiou started making wine and Zivania for family and friends but soon with his sons Thanasis and Michael turned to the practice of fermenting and distilling, turning the family vines into a full-scale production of wine.
2019 Livades, Xynisteri dry, Pafos
Light, bright yellow. A lively, complex bouquet evokes fresh citrus and orchard fruits, touch of yellow tropical fruit and some chalky minerals, white flowers and ginger. Hits the palate with concentrated lemon and pear skin flavours, some herbal hints with juicy acidity providing spine and lift. Offers a good combination of crispiness and finesse and finishes stony, medium longevity, with repeating floral and mineral character. €5.50
2019 Livades Xynisteri Medium Dry, Pafos
Straw yellow colour with flashes of lemon and orange blossom that give the wine notes of maturity, summer melon and peach aromas. Also, some hints of fine herbs. In the mouth it is ample, unctuous and caresses the palate with its delicate sweetness, spewing harmoniously fruity notes of peach, apricot and honey. Excellent with Asian aperitif, lightly spicy food, and summer salads. €5.50
2019 Demetra Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Dry, Pafos
The colour is inviting, reminiscent of ripe, freshly sliced strawberry. The nose reveals a nuance of earthy Cabernet Sauvignon. This beautifully balanced rosé has layers of flavours which contribute to its distinct, complex palate. Fresh acidity and low alcohol provide the savoury core of this wine, yet the abundance of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit flavours provide the immediate joy of a basket of inviting summer fruits. With its dry finish and balanced acidity, this rosé is perfectly suited for al fresco dining and lighter fare. €6
2016 Demetra Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé Medium Dry, Pafos
The Cabernet Sauvignon allows the wine to acquire its final rosy colour. This is a good, medium sweet rosé wine, with a slight taste for some residual sugar. Intense rose color, crisp and refreshing, intensely flower, fruit, honey flavours, good firm structure, long luxurious spicy finish. Best food matching: excellent with Asian flavoured appetizers, salads, light pastas and fruit salads. €6
2018 Ayia Sotiris Mataro red dry Pafos
Medium deep crimson, graphite, purple fruit, red berries, soft ripe blackberry and plum, pepper and violets in the bouquet. It tastes of suede tannins dappled with grilled meat, blackberry, and a twist of spiced orange peel. It has got swagger and some grunt but feels neatly tucked in. Great stuff. Full-bodied red wines like Mataro beg for rich foods to absorb the high tannin. Look for meats with lots of umami like beef short ribs, pork shoulder, barbeque, lamb, rabbit, pork sausage and veal. €5.50
2016 Gerani Maratheftiko red dry Pafos
The 10% Opthalmo grape variety in this all Cypriot wine along with the 12 months kept in French oak makes the difference. A wine of deep red colour with some violet hues. The nose shows black pepper and clove aromas, with good spiciness. Some coffee and mocha notes in perfect harmony with berries and currants, giving the feel of an elegant well-balanced wine. Nicely balanced in the mouth, with dark plum flavours and abundant spice. It is very elegant, soft, and silky. Pair with red meats, game pieces and strong cheese. €12
2015 Kalamos Merlot, dry red Pafos
Probably my favourite of the red collection on this tasting. This Kalamos Merlot has a dark, almost opaque, garnet colour. The nose is fruit-forward with hints of oak and minerality. Flavours are bright with berries, baking spices, dark chocolate and cola. Full-bodied with a hint of sweet oak on the finish. Best pairings are BBQ, marinated skirt steak, chicken kabobs, raviolis, and hard cheeses. €10
Kalamos Commandaria, Commandaria PDO
The sweet wine of Cyprus sourced from Commandaria appellation north of Limassol. A blend of Xynisteri and Mavro grape, this sun-dried wine is kept for three years in oak. Commandaria is a full-bodied sweet wine, the experience is unmistakable amber gold colour in the glass is accompanied by dry fig and apricot, honey, hazelnuts, cacao and vanilla with some caramel balanced with perfect fruit acidity to finish clean. €22
Kalamos Zivania
The Cyprus eau-de-vie, Kalamos Zivania is a distillation of Xynisteri and Muscat of Alexandria (Malaga) grapes. No colour, penetrating aromas and flavors of green vine shoots, floral and violet. On the palate is dry but smooth full-bodied herbal and floral, long lasting and with an intense finish. €10 (50cl)
Kalamos Oak Aged Zivania
Aged in oak barrels, hence the amber gold colour, and enriched with caramel and spice. A bold, rich Zivania with notes of vanilla, baking spices, almond and oak. Aromatic and lively. €12 (50cl)
Kalamos Sweet Oak Aged Zivania
Dark amber colour, with elegant aromas of caramel, sweet spice, vanilla, and bitter chocolate. Tastes of dark raisin and dry fig, gentle enough with sweet notes and hints of oak. An after dinner must. €12 (50cl)
Rodi Pomegranate Liqueur
Kalamos Pomegranate is an exciting liqueur that showcases the delicious flavour of pomegranate. Mahogany red in colour, it delivers the tangy, sweet-sharp flavour of sun-ripened pomegranates. €10 (50cl)
Contact: 26 723224, [email protected]
