STOP PRESS – Thrilled to announced that Julia is now (Sunday evening) on a plane to Athens to taste all those wines on your behalf. (We couldn't find her for quite a while as she was at boot camp.)
Nick and I had been so much looking forward to a short trip to Athens today until Tuesday. I was itching to taste the great line-up of great Greek reds that had been assembled at this fine wine event at the Grande Bretagne hotel (see mouth-watering list below). I have long been a big fan of Greek wine and I know that Greek wine producers need all the publicity they can get. (Look out for Julia's forthcoming report on the first generic Greek wine tasting to have been held in London for many years. We got in the mood last week by introducing a big party of traditional wine drinkers to Alpha Estate's delicious Axia Malagousia. They loved it.)
Organisers, food and wine writer Panos Deligiannis and Constantine Stergides, had taken special trouble to make this an unforgettable trip, building in visits to some of Athens' most interesting restaurants for Nick and a special visit to the new Acropolis Museum for both of us. The weather, with much higher temperatures than freezing London, looked pretty appealing too.
But, as I pointed out in my weekly email on Friday, I have been afflicted by a streaming cold for several days now. The plan was that we would honour a longstanding commitment in Paris on Saturday and then fly off to Athens today. I had been feeling crummy and spent most of yesterday in bed, hoping that this would cure me. But I woke up this morning feeling worse than ever: aching all over, thermostat not functioning, coughing non stop and my nose so blocked I could not even smell the Vick's Vapour Rub. (That caused a panic in the middle of the night.) I am already dreading the train journey back to London this afternoon but I really couldn't face a long flight, and then not being able to do justice to all those wines. (The chap here from the museum looks how I feel.)
I write from bed in Paris and expect to spend the next few days in bed in London. I am particularly cross since I had a bout of flu nearly as bad as this two months ago. That inspired me to have a flu jab, but I can't really see that it's done any good. Grr. We hope very much to attend next year's Fine Red Wine event in Athens.
WINES TO BE SHOWN AT THE FINE GREEK RED EVENT TOMORROW
Alpha Estate, Alpha One 2008 PGI Florina
Alpha Estate, Alpha One 2004 Table Wine
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Avantis Estate, Collection 2009 PGI Evia
Avantis Estate, Collection 2007 PGI Evia
Avantis Estate, Collection 2003 PGI Evia
Avantis Estate, Holy Time 2009 PGI Evia
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Boutari Winery, 1879 Boutari Legacy 2007 PDO Naoussa
Boutari Winery, Xinomavro 1993 PDO Naoussa
Boutari Winery, Agiorgitiko 1993 PDO Nemea
Boutari Winery, Cava 1992 PGI Macedonia
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Domaine Gerovassiliou, Evangelo 2010 PGI Epanomi
Domaine Gerovassiliou, Avaton 2011 PGI Epanomi
Domaine Gerovassiliou, Avaton 2004 PGI Epanomi
Domaine Gerovassiliou, Avaton 2002 PGI Epanomi
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Domaine Hatzimichalis, Kapnias 2008 PGI Atalanti Valley
Domaine Hatzimichalis, Vacchius Vinum 2005 PGI Atalanti Valley
Domaine Hatzimichalis, Raches Galanou 2005 PGI Atalanti Valley
Domaine Hatzimichalis, Opous Cabernet Granc 2004 PGI Opountia Locris
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Domaine Katsaros 2009 PGI Krania
Domaine Katsaros 2000 PGI Krania
Domaine Katsaros 1992 PGI Krania
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Domaine Sigalas, Santorini
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Domaine Skouras, Labyrinth 2009 PGI Peloponnese
Domaine Skouras, Synoro 2006 PGI Peloponnese
Domaine Skouras, Nemea Grande Cuvée 2004 PDO Nemea
Domaine Skouras, Megas Oenos Magnum (1.5lt) 2003 PGI Peloponnese
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Gaia Wines, Gaia Estate 2010 PDO Nemea
Gaia Wines, Gaia Estate 2007 PDO Nemea
Gaia Wines, Gaia Estate 2005 PDO Nemea
Gaia Wines, Gaia Estate 2000 PDO Nemea
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Kir-Yianni Estate, Blue Fox Magnum 2011 PGI Imathia
Kir-Yianni Estate, Diaporos 2011 PGI Imathia
Kir-Yianni Estate, Ramnista Jeroboam 2001 PDO Naoussa
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Ktima Biblia Chora, Ovilos 2008 PGI Paghaeo
Ktima Biblia Chora, Sideways 2008 PGI Paghaeo
Ktima Biblia Chora, Areti 2008 PGI Paghaeo
Ktima Biblia Chora, Ovilos 2003 PGI Paghaeo
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Ktima Tselepos, Kokkinomilos Merlot 2011 PGI Arcadia
Ktima Tselepos, Kokkinomilos Merlot 2006 PGI Arcadia
Ktima Tselepos, Kokkinomilos Merlot 2001 PGI Arcadia
Ktima Tselepos, Avlotopi Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 PGI Arcadia
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La Tour Melas 2012 PGI Fthiotida
La Tour Melas 2011 PGI Fthiotida
La Tour Melas, Franc de Pieds 2013 Table Wine
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Nemeion Estate, HGEMΩΝ 2007 PDO Nemea
Nemeion Estate 2004 PDO Nemea
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Palivou Estate, ΝΟΗΜΑ 2006-7 PGI Peloponnese
Palivou Estate, IXNOS 2012 PGI Peloponnese
Palivou Estate, Terra Leone Ammos 2006 PDO Nemea
Palivou Estate, Terra Leone Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 PGI Peloponnese
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Pieria Eratini Estate, Naked King 2012 PGI Macedonia
Pieria Eratini Estate, Naked King 2011 PGI Macedonia
Pieria Eratini Estate, Naked King (magnum)2011 PGI Macedonia
Pieria Eratini Estate, Wishes Erateines (magnum) 2010 PGI Macedonia
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T-Oinos, Mavrotragano & Avgoustiatis 2011 PGI Cyclades
T-Oinos, Avgoustiatis & Mavrotragano 2011 PGI Cyclades
T-Oinos, Avgoustiatis & Mavrotragano 2010 PGI Cyclades
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Tsantali, Rapsani Grande Reserve 2008 PDO Rapsani
Tsantali, Kormilitsa Gold 2007 PGI Mount Athos
Tsantali, Rapsani Reserve 1998 PDO Rapsani
Tsantali, Naoussa 1997 PDO Naoussa