The 2007 "Grande Cuvee" is laced with too many powerful oaky nuances at this point in its life, giving it too much vanilla and obscuring the purity of the Aigiorgitiko flavors too much. My experience, though, is that the oak does integrate considerably over time. Once past that, it is elegant and attractive, and its very fine acidity cuts through to the forefront. There are ripe tannins and a very graceful mid-palate. It is sexy and fragrant, although most of the nose at the moment comes from the oak. Rather reticent in style, but for the oak, this is a laid back wine that goes down easy, but at this point in its life, at least, I found myself preferring the 2008 Saint George reviewed this issue because I could actually taste the Aigiorgitiko. That wine is admittedly lighter, simpler and not as ageworthy, but it has its merits and bargain hunters will note that it is also half the price. The wines under the Grande Cuvee brand can age, as I've seen at the winery, but for my money they do not truly reward aging. Give this 6-12 months to settle down. It needs to integrate the oak a little better, and then it's good to go. Drink now-2017. Importer: Diamond Importers, Chicago, IL; tel. (773) 549-6211

Black cherry, pepper and smoked meat on the nose are followed by flavors of smoked cherry, vanilla and pepper on the palate. Focused, with a spin of minerality on the finish, this is a versatile food wine.——S.K.(6/1/2011)—— 85

The 2006 GRANDE CUVEE is oak-softened, the fruit a bit mute, but there is some brightness on this wine cutting through the velvety texture to give it a little intensity and verve. The flavors are muted at the moment by the oak overlay, but this benefits greatly from air, as the fruit asserts itself and the wine becomes brighter, more balanced and more charming. It showed very well the next day, the oak much better integrated and the fruit surprisingly persistent. Greek wine fanciers like to talk about the inherent, crowd pleasing charm of Agiorgitiko. This is a wine that shows you what they mean. There are times when it seems rather too oaky—and Agiorgitiko is not a grape that is very forgiving if overoaked—so let us hope that some time in the cellar changes that picture. Drink now-2017. Importer: Diamond Importers, Chicago, IL; tel: (773) 549-6211