Meza Wine Club - March 2026
Enthusiast Red / White
Wine 1: Beckman Cuvee Le Bec Red Blend
Notes of bright red fruits with floral nuances, complemented by hints of licorice, pepper, and spice. Sourced from five Syrah clones and three Grenache clones, the grapes were hand-harvested and cluster sorted, with Syrah receiving additional berry sorting for precision. Following a two-day cold soak to extract color and phenolic complexity, each lot was fermented individually with native yeast. Caps were manually punched down twice daily, with skin contact ranging from seven to eighteen days based on the lot. The wine completed spontaneous native malolactic fermentation in barrel, enhancing texture and integration. Aged for sixteen months in 100% neutral French oak barrels of 60, 70, and 80 gallons.
Blend: 50% Syrah, 38% Grenache, 7% Mourvèdre, 5% Counoise
Wine 2: Alexakis Assyrtiko
While it probably came from Santorini, this famed grape is planted all around Greece. Most producers are very proud of the variety and present it as their flagship wine. Assyrtiko is well suited to Crete’s conditions of high winds and low vigour soils. The style is something between the mineral-driven wines of Santorini and the fruitier styles of mainland Greece. Assyrtiko exhibits shy citrusy aromas while young and only shows its complexity after two to three years of ageing. Its characteristically-high slaty acidity is present also in Cretan Assyrtikos. It is increasingly found as a single-varietal wine. Still, it is a widely used blending partner to other Cretan wines and is often blended with the indigenous Thrapsathiri or Vilana to boost acidity.
Incredibly refreshing but serious at the same time. It opens beautifully in the glass after a few swirls and add it rewards with flinty and citrus zest notes, accompanied by a smoky character. The lean, super fresh acidity is merged harmoniously with a creamy body showing elegant biscuit undertones.