Diamantakos 2024 Preknadi
In the years since Giorgios resuscitated this almost-extinct variety, he has toyed with his approach to the “freckled one” (the name derives from the grapes’ tendency to develop colour spots as they ripen.) He is now a master at harnessing all the succulent, Viognier-like joy that Preknadi has to offer – all in an improbably light alcoholic frame. The new vintage is simply brilliant.
Pronounce this wine:
Arriving Soon
Wine Specifics
WineWise Code | HDI-PRE24 |
Country | Greece |
Region | Naousa |
Color/Style | White |
Destemming | Whole cluster |
Fermentation Vessel | Stainless steel and Barrel |
Additional Fermentation Notes | Pre-fermentation cold soak the whole bunches 3 hrs at 50F.
Alcoholic fermentation 70% free run juice,30% mild pressed juice.
Into open top stainless steel vats for 12 days and finishing the fermentation into 500L french oak barrels. |
Aging Vessel | 90% Stainless Steel, 10% Used Barrique |
Aging Duration (months) | 9 months in stainless steel, 1 month in Used Barrique |
Filtered? | Yes |
Fining Agents | None |
Yeast Protocol | Cultured |
Malolactic Conversion | No |
Additonal Maturation Details: | Stirring the fine lees at the barrel twice a week and then sitting on the fine lees at the steel tank |
Added Sulfur | Yes, 82.3 mg/L |
Varieties | 100% Preknadi |
Residual Sugar | 1.11 |
ABV | 14 |
Acidity | 6.88 |
pH | 3.61 |
Closure | DIAM |
Annual Production | 4700 bottles |
Primary Vineyard Name | Mantemi:
Mantemi is the Greek word for the iron-carbon metal blend. We also call Mantemi the stone that dominates the soil of our vineyard. |
Soil Types | Gravel, Sedimentary, Loam |
Elevation (meters) | 240 |
Vine Age | 16 |
Yields (hl/ha) | 25 hl/ha |
Farming Practices | Practicing organic, Practicing sustainable |
Harvest Method | Hand-harvested |
Other Vineyard Details | Mantemi is located on the eastern foothills of Mount Vermio, at an altitude of 200-240m. Around 60% of the land has a northwest orientation, while the rest has south and east. The land is full of slopes, ranging from a 5%-25% incline.
The top soil is generally sandy clay with sandy loamy subsoil. Below 60 cm, the parent stone becomes sedimentary rock. Gravel is present throughout the layers of the ground, mixed with its disintegrated form. The soil has traces of calcium carbonate, low organic matter levels, moderately poor trace elements and good drainage. In Mantemi, nutrients and water are not given to the vine easily, in order to achieve its self-sufficiency.
The mountain range of Vermio is crucial for the microclimate of the region. The winter is usually severe, giving nature the time to rest, while the weather conditions during spring are unstable, making it difficult for the vine grower. In summer the sunlight ripens the grapes, while the mountain breeze cools the vines during the night. Autumn is unpredictable and the harvest date is decided on a day-to-day basis. |
Notes from the Producer: The vintage:
The 2024 growing season at Naoussa was the driest and warmest on record, both in duration and intensity. The very warm November and December of 2023 delayed leaf fall and, consequently, the vines' entry into dormancy. Light snowfall occurred on January 21, while February was normal. Rains during the first ten days of March coincided with the start of bud break on March 11, ten days earlier than last year.
The drought became evident in April, when the flora in the vineyards already resembled that of July. In the first ten days of May, during flowering, unusually low temperatures were recorded, leading to irregular fruit setting. The area also experienced two hailstorms: the first on 13 May, accompanied by heavy rain, and an even more severe one on 27 May, which, fortunately, caused limited overall damage.
In the summer, the vineyards were faced with a series of extreme weather events. In mid-June, strong winds caused stress to the plants, causing problems on the leaf surfaces. This was followed by three consecutive heat waves (June - July - August), of long duration and intensity, as well as higher temperatures during the night hours.
It was the earliest harvest in history. Rainfall at the end of August contributed to the gradual decrease in night temperatures, which by the first week of September had returned to relatively normal levels for the season. Disease pressure was clearly lower than in previous years. The health of the grapes was at a high level. The aromas were very good. The decision to harvest as quickly as possible, going through each vineyard as many times as necessary, helped to maintain acidity and control alcohol levels so that they did not exceed normal limits.
