Sandy and sandy clay over limestone. 12 months in Allier oak. TA 6 g/l, RS 2 g/l, pH 3.42. Deep cherry red. Deliciously restrained dark-red fruit aroma with notes of inviting sour cherry. That same sour cherry on the palate, along with spice and chewy depths that need more time to release the fragrance of the fruit. Firm, dry tannins but fresh and super-tangy but dark-fruited on the finish. A baby but already showing very good harmony. Long, lightly spice finish, the oak well in the background. 17 points

The 2012 Xinomavro Hedgehog Vineyard is the latest iteration in this bargain-priced brand, also part of this issue`s focus on Amyndeon terroir. It was just recently released. It was aged for 12 of months in French oak (half new, half used). The Hedgehog is a perennial value point in the lineup these days, a wine that always provides value with some distinction. This is another beauty. Perfectly focused, it is tight and pointed, yet deep and rather lush, relatively speaking. Its oaky initial demeanor faded with aeration, leaving a wine with increasing purity of fruit. This overachiever could benefit from another year or so in the cellar, but it combines power, fine concentration and balance. It`s worth leaning up. 91 points