WTN: Have I had a Cretan wine before?

No wine Tuesday with Pad Krapow Gai

Wednesday grilled clams and garlic over fresh linguine, broccoli rabe, grilled artichokes, and salad
2025 Alexakis Assyrtiko (Crete)
I love Santorini Assyrtiko, but generally I avoid Assyrtiko from elsewhere. MaybeI should just avoid mainland Assyrtiko. This is lighter than most Santorinis, but it’s crisp and refreshing. Grapefruit, a tropical (mango?) note, nice salinity on the finish. There’s a tiny sensation of petillance. This is kind of like a cross between a Santorini and a Vinho Verde. Works well with food, not complex but a good value. B

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C drinkable. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was the only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

[David M. Bueker]

I don’t think I have ever had a Cretan wine.

Though there have been times I've been called a cretin.

[Jenise]

Over the years, per CT I've had six wines from Crete, per CT. Most were a producer named Lyriakis, and the grapes ranged from indigenous whites I've never had anywhere else to syrah. No assyrtiko. All but one were somewhere between pleasantly credible and very good. That said, the best Greek wines I've had have come from Santorini.