Like a Central American mara highjacking a military arms convoy, Maratheftiko stole the show at the 7th Cyprus Wine Competition staged in Limassol this past weekend. The Rock's most important indigenous variety ganged up on its rivals and beat them to the pulp, amassing five gold medals, three silver and multiple accolades from the international panel of jurors. Tom Cannavan, editor at wine-pages.com and a jury member, tweeted about the overall selection to acclaimed wine writer Jancis Robinson: "some lovely Syrah and Maratheftiko (really very good) and one or two Xynisteri's really singing. Cabs and Merlot so so." Such success bodes very well for Cypriot wine and I, for one, hope to see similar performances by the variety in future international wine competitions.
Besides serving as Maratheftiko's coming-out party, the event was marked by the Grand Gold Medal for the 2005 KEO St. John Commandaria and yet another gold for Agia Mavri's Mosxatos, which a Cannavan tweet referred to as "mind-blowingly good" and "some of the world's great sweet wines." Personally, I was surprised no medals were awarded to Aes Ambelis and Domaine Hadjiantonas, two excellent wineries that usually take their share of the loot. Likewise, I believe I was robbed of an opportunity to blog live about the event when I wasn't extended an invitation to the gala dinner. Yes, my writing is utterly shallow but that shouldn't detract from my self-assigned status as the Beauloais Nouveau of Cyprus wine writers. You know, fresh, festive, a tad immature and unrefined yet perfectly satisfying.
Gold medals are listed below. For the full results, click here.
Besides serving as Maratheftiko's coming-out party, the event was marked by the Grand Gold Medal for the 2005 KEO St. John Commandaria and yet another gold for Agia Mavri's Mosxatos, which a Cannavan tweet referred to as "mind-blowingly good" and "some of the world's great sweet wines." Personally, I was surprised no medals were awarded to Aes Ambelis and Domaine Hadjiantonas, two excellent wineries that usually take their share of the loot. Likewise, I believe I was robbed of an opportunity to blog live about the event when I wasn't extended an invitation to the gala dinner. Yes, my writing is utterly shallow but that shouldn't detract from my self-assigned status as the Beauloais Nouveau of Cyprus wine writers. You know, fresh, festive, a tad immature and unrefined yet perfectly satisfying.
Gold medals are listed below. For the full results, click here.
Grand Gold Medal
2005 KEO St. John Commandaria
Gold Medal
Sweet Wines
Sweet Wines
2010 Agia Mavri Mosxatos
Dry Red Wines
2009 Kyperounda Cabernet Sauvignon
2005 Vassilikon "Methi" Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Argyrides Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot
2008 Ezousa Metharmi Maratheftiko
2010 Argyrides Maratheftiko
2010 Apostaktirio Nicholas Ignatiou "Gerani" Maratheftiko
2010 Zambartas Maratheftiko
2010 Makkas Maratheftiko
2009 Kyperounda Shiraz
2009 Constantinou Shiraz
2010 Kyperounda Shiraz
Dry White Wines
2011 Kyperounda Petritis Xynisteri
2011 Constantinou Ayioklima Xynisteri
2011 Kyperounda Chardonnay
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