2022 Troupis Hoof & Lur Moschofilero: A Wild Skin-Contact Greek Wine

I'm a huge fan of Greek wines, loving all of their fascinating and delicious indigenous grapes. Greece produces a vast diversity of wines, from different terroirs, and exploring that diversity is exciting. Last week, I tried another Greek wine which was new to me, the 2022 Troupis Hoof & Lur Moschofilero, and it was a compelling skin-contact wine.

The Troupis Winery is located in the region of Arcadia, in the central Peloponnese. In Arcadia, the winery is within the Mantinea Plateau in the Fteri area, about 2100 feet above sea level. Mantinia was established as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in 1971. Since the 1970s, the family owned about 7 hectares of Moschofilero vineyards, organically farmed, finally deciding to establish a winery in 2010. They have since also planted a hectare of Assyrtiko. 

The 2022 Troupis Hoof & Lur Moschofilero ($20-$25) is made from 100% Moschofilero, an indigenous Greek grape whose history probably extends back to antiquity. It's a pink-skinned, aromatic white grape, and used in White, Rosé and Sparkling wines. It's considered to be one of the major white grapes of Greece. However, it's also a difficult grape to cultivate. 

The winery states that this wine is "an homage to the wines native to the high plateau of Mantinia for millennia." The Moschofilero grapes spent three months on the skins, and then were fermented, with wild yeasts, in terra cotta spheres, with stirring of the lees. The wine wasn't fined or filtered, and also is vegan. This is supposed to be the style of wine that their parents and grandparents once enjoyed. 

The color of this wine is a dark blood orange, the hue from the pink grape skins more than evident. It's much darker than many other amber colored, skin-contact wines. You might almost think it were a light red wine. The aromas are enticing, an intriguing blend of citrus and spice. And on the palate, there's a complex blend of flavors, bright citrus, red berries, spice, and touches of honey. Crisp acidity, moderate tannins, a rich mouthfeel and a lengthy, pleasing finish. Overall, an intriguing and tasty wine which will appeal to adventurous wine lovers.