The more I taste the modern wines of Greece, the more I come to like them. The temperate Mediterranean climate there - along with varied terroir - lends itself well to the production of high-quality, warm-weather wines. 

One such wine that I had the pleasure of tasting recently is Alpha Estate Malagouzia Turtles Vineyard 2013 ($18).  Alpha Estate is located in the heart of the Amyndeon, a wine region in the Northwest of Greece. The estate's vineyards cover over 160 acres situated on a plateau around 2,000 feet above sea level.

The wine is 100% Malagouzia - one of the "new kids" on the white wine varietal block. Said wine critic Robert Parker in The Wine Advocate  of Alpha Estate wines, "...one of those hot estates that should draw consumer attention. This winery has been considered to be a 'comer' for awhile. It is fair to end that talk. They have arrived and are making terrific wines."

I agree. The Alpha Estate Malagouzia Turtles Vineyard 2013 is  quite lovely, with flowery aromas of roses along with honeysuckle and litchi. It's a big, round wine on the palate with a rich texture. Try it with lighter-sauced pastas, chicken or an array of Greek meze.