Domaine de Kalathas

Tinos, (Cyclades) Greece

Domaine de Kalathas was established by Jerome Charles Binda on the Cycladic island of Tinos, Greece, in 2011. The island sits in the middle of the Aegean Sea and is home to the rare sandy granitic soil of the Kalathas Valley, on which Jerome and his eldest son Gabriel create incredibly distinctive wines from their 10 hectare plot of rocky terraces. 

Alongside olive trees, fruit trees and vegetables, Jerome works with native local varieties - Rozaki, Aspro and Mavro Potamisi, Koumariano and Kondoura - grown on ungrafted crawling vines which have never been affected by phylloxera and most of which are over 100 years old. Some are as old as 200 years old. The domaine is self-sustained by its own wells of water and solar power, grows vegetables for local consumption and through its Kaloriziko Project, initiated three years ago, promotes youth engagement with the vines and olive groves in an effort to preserve heritage agricultural techniques and promote the sustainable use of resources on the island. Farming is certified organic with biodynamic- and permaculture-inspired practices employed in tending the vines, which are grown using semi-wild training in an effort to preserve healthy biodiversity in the vineyard. 

Jerome produces a range of cuvees which differs slightly year-to-year. Generally speaking, the whites, rosés and light reds are foot-trodden and gently pressed in a vertical basket press, while lengthier macerations are also used for other cuvees. Alcoholic fermentations take place in large stainless steel vats with very little or no temperature control. Very few rackings or bâtonnages are performed during élevage, which generally lasts for at least one year to eighteen months before the wines are bottled.

 

Information on previous wines

  • Very old-vine aspro potamisi and rozaki grown on granite, direct pressed and raised in stainless steel. Named after the mountain chapel that sits at foot of the domaine’s vineyards

    2021 Similar in style to 2019 albeit with a fraction higher acidity.

    2019 A blushing white wine. Ripe and rich yet restrained expression of fruit and a deep, saline and very correct and classical structure.

  • Very old-vine aspro potamisi grown on granite and raised in stainless steel.

    2021 This cuvee is generally pressed directly but in 2021 a small percentage was macerated. The fruit here is a little spicier and more exotic than in the case of the Sainte-Obéissance.

    2020 A ripe and rich yet restrained expression of fruit and a deep, saline and very correct and classical structure.

  • Very old-vine rozaki, aspro potamisi and mavro potamisi, raised in stainless steel

    2022 Lightly foot-trodden before fermentation, giving a rosé wine. Similar in style to 2021 albeit with a touch more acidity.

    2021 Lightly foot-trodden before fermentation, giving a rosé wine. Restrained flavours of quince, wildflowers and spice with a deep, saline and very correct and classical structure.

  • Very old-vine koumariano grown on granite.

    2021 Fermented for three weeks as whole bunches before being foot trodden and pressed to stainless steel for a year of elevage, giving a light red wine. Perfumed with red fruit and wild herbs, with a deep, saline and very correct and classical structure.

  • Very old-vine mavro potamisi, koumariano and kondoura, grown on granite and raised in stainless steel.

    2021 A light red wine. Pure red fruit and a distinctive imprint of iodine. Profoundly deep with a very correct and classical structure.

  • 2022 Assyrtiko and aspro aïdani from a small parcel of young, ungrafted vines planted from massale cuttings. The grapes were lightly foot-trodden and fermented and aged in vats for a year, resulting in a pale, saline white wine.

  • 2021 From more recent plantings of syrah which, despite the relatively young vine age, are already starting to show the terroir. Fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel. Ultra-precise, concentrated, deep, varietal and very pure, with a dark style of fruit, olive brine character, elegant tannic structure and perfectly supporting acidity.