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(Synonyms: Kalabaki, Kalambaki, Kalampaki, Lembiotiko, Lemnia, Lemnio—see the discussion below about “Limniona”.)
Background
Limnio is a red-wine grape originating on the Greek island of Límnos, and not found outside Greece. It was long conflated with Limniona, but DNA analysis has now clearly shown them to be two distinct grape types. Limnio originated on Límnos, but is now also grown on the mainland, in Macedonia and Thrace; some say those wines are superior to the island wines.
Limnio grapes are late-ripening and thus tend to produce juice with high sugar levels, which in turn would lead to high alcohol level in the finished wine. Moreover, if harvested late, the juice also contains certain phenols that tend to impart a definite herbaceous quality to the wines. Thus, the grapes are often harvested relatively early.
The resultant wines are typically large, full-bodied, and strongly flavored, having at least moderate tannins and acidity, and a notably mineral nose, which appears to be their single most distinctive quality, followed by herbaceousness, then dark red-berry overtones. Limnio is very often blended, sometimes with other Greek reds but increasingly (and, arguably, deplorably) with “international” reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Factoid: If little known today, Limnio is nonetheless storied. It is widely believed—a few scoffers notwithstanding—that it is the Limnia remarked on by Aristotle (who more than once mentioned its herbaceous flavors of oregano), Hesiod, and Polydeuctes.
"Limnio produces full bodied wines with moderate tannins and acidity levels and a distinctive mineral aroma. When blended, Limnio adds color, weight, acidity and an herbal aroma which Oz Clarke describes as reminiscent of bay leaves."
"Limnio wine is moderate in color, elegant in aromas and flavors, dominated by fresh, aromatic herbs and elegant, red berry fruits. On the palate it displays medium acidity, medium and very silky tannins, breadth, and moderately high alcohol…Limnio is an excellent wine for wine drinkers who want to get away from the heaviness of international wine varieties. It is a grape that delivers interesting flavors, with a discreet tannin structure and brightness…All single Limnios and blends are ready for consumption on release, but pure Limnio can develop for four to seven years, and blends can develop for significantly longer."
"Limnio is full-bodied wine with moderate levels of acidity and tannic and a distinguishable mineral tone and aroma, making it highly suitable for blending with other varietals, to derive a completely new color, acidity, herbal tones, acidity levels and aroma. Limnio grapes – the main varietal used in this wine, is known for its hardiness and adaptability to survive the toughest drought conditions and late ripening characteristic, which offers and enhances herbaceous tone to the wine. Limnio wine is ideally blended with Grenache, Merlot and Cinsaut. Limnio displays a striking resistance not only from dry weather conditions but also from different types of diseases – often described as a sturdy grape."
"Why I loved it: The fragrant, sensual and extremely complex nose of aromas reminiscent of ripe strawberries, black cherries, pomegranate, dried rose petals, exotic Indian spices, black pepper and notes of cedar and dark chocolate. Dry on the palate, with a mouth-watering acidity and well integrated, fine grained tannins; full yet elegant, with flavours of sweet dark cherries, plums, spices, dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans and a long black pepper finish."
Regrettably, there are currently no decent Limnio-based wines under $20 that are carried by more than a very few retailers (at least as listed in the search engines), and even of those there are very few. In the “list” below, we show one Limnio with decent CellarTracker ratings and price that has very few listed retail sources, but one listing is better than none.
You can see if anything new has recently turned up at either Wine Searcher or 1000 Corks. by clicking the links in this sentence.
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Some Descriptions of Limnio Wines
"Limnio produces full bodied wines with moderate tannins and acidity levels and a distinctive mineral aroma. When blended, Limnio adds color, weight, acidity and an herbal aroma which Oz Clarke describes as reminiscent of bay leaves."
"Limnio wine is moderate in color, elegant in aromas and flavors, dominated by fresh, aromatic herbs and elegant, red berry fruits. On the palate it displays medium acidity, medium and very silky tannins, breadth, and moderately high alcohol…Limnio is an excellent wine for wine drinkers who want to get away from the heaviness of international wine varieties. It is a grape that delivers interesting flavors, with a discreet tannin structure and brightness…All single Limnios and blends are ready for consumption on release, but pure Limnio can develop for four to seven years, and blends can develop for significantly longer."
"Limnio is full-bodied wine with moderate levels of acidity and tannic and a distinguishable mineral tone and aroma, making it highly suitable for blending with other varietals, to derive a completely new color, acidity, herbal tones, acidity levels and aroma. Limnio grapes – the main varietal used in this wine, is known for its hardiness and adaptability to survive the toughest drought conditions and late ripening characteristic, which offers and enhances herbaceous tone to the wine. Limnio wine is ideally blended with Grenache, Merlot and Cinsaut. Limnio displays a striking resistance not only from dry weather conditions but also from different types of diseases – often described as a sturdy grape."
"Why I loved it: The fragrant, sensual and extremely complex nose of aromas reminiscent of ripe strawberries, black cherries, pomegranate, dried rose petals, exotic Indian spices, black pepper and notes of cedar and dark chocolate. Dry on the palate, with a mouth-watering acidity and well integrated, fine grained tannins; full yet elegant, with flavours of sweet dark cherries, plums, spices, dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans and a long black pepper finish."
"As a varietal wine Limnio is full-bodied, high in alcohol and very herbaceous, with a distinctive taste of bay leaves."
"So how do you most easily pick [out] Limnio? There is a distinct mineral aroma, which comes from almost no other vine on planet Earth."
"[It] produces lovely, silky red with the exotic perfume of wet violets and cherries."