The Notios Agiorgifiko 2006, Gaia Wines SA, Gaia's Vineyard, Koutsi- Nemea Has intense fruit and is rather dark scarlet. However it is fully ready to drink, and the tannins are quite soft. The company makes a wide range of wines from this native Greek grape, from pink to very full ones that may need a few years of age. This wine is about in the middle of their range. I think it is very good value. It reminds me a bit of a top Beaujolais-Villages with much of the intense fruit of a Fleurie and the power of a Moulin-a-Vent, but with much smoother acid and tannins than either. It has in addition some spice notes that are not typical of Gamay.
The Agiorghitiko [ Ah yor yee' ti ko ] grape translates into St. George and is a native Greek grape. See
Much to my surprise, the cork was jet black when I removed the foil. The cork was labeled Nomacorc on the side. This is a synthetic cork with an outer surface designed to seal and an inner core of foam designed to breathe slightly. This cork apparently is intended for wines that mature in the short or medium term. If you are interested in details concerning the cork, see