Vassaltis Cuvee Mythologique Alcyone 2023
Vassaltis Cuvee Mythologique Alcyone 2023
ETA Early October 2026
Drink Date: 2026 - 2038
A beautifully layered expression of Assyrtiko, the Vassaltis Vineyards 2023 Santorini Alcyone Cuvee Mythologique presents the variety's hallmark freshness with added depth and complexity. Flint, crushed stone and bright acidity frame a richer core of stone fruit and subtle caramel notes, creating a wine that feels both evolved and energetic at the same time. Produced in 3,606 bottles, the wine undergoes whole-bunch pressing before fermentation in oak tanks, followed by élevage in flex tanks and concrete over a total of 15 months. The fruit is sourced from a selection of vineyard parcels chosen for their concentration and intensity, resulting in a more powerful and textural interpretation of Santorini that nevertheless retains excellent precision and mineral focus.
Vassaltis Vineyards brings an interesting talking point to the debate over the future of Santorini viticulture. At a time when vineyard abandonment, declining yields and persistent drought threaten the long-term sustainability of the island's wine culture, proprietor Yannis Valambous is taking concrete action through new vineyard plantings and extensive experimentation with pruning techniques, clonal selection, planting methods and irrigation strategies. Most notably, the estate has embraced cordon-trained vines alongside Santorini's traditional basket-trained kouloura system—a controversial move, but it's one that raises important questions about how the island can balance tradition with economic viability in the decades ahead.
Since 2020, Vassaltis has expanded its vineyard holdings to 20 hectares, increasing the proportion of estate-grown fruit from 15% to more than 60% even as Santorini's overall vineyard production continues to shrink. The estate's own production has fallen dramatically from 90,000 bottles in 2022 to 35,000 bottles in 2025, underscoring the severity of the challenges facing growers across the island. Looking ahead, Vassaltis plans to plant an additional three hectares in 2027 while also expanding its focus to other islands in the Cyclades, pursuing a broader vision that seeks to capture the identity of the Aegean archipelago while helping secure the future of island viticulture.
Reviewed by: Monica Larner, Published: Jun 25, 2026
Varietal Composition: 100% Assyrtiko
Classification: Protected Designation of Origin Santorini (PDO)
Vineyard: Selected plots in Pyrgos, Megalochori and Vourvoulos
Vinification and Elevage: A 100% Assyrtiko wine made from hand picked grapes from three vineyard plots. Whole cluster pressed and fermented in oak vats and 500 liters barrels. Following four months of battonage the wine mature on its lees. After bottling, Alcyone rests in our cellars for 7 more months before release.
Color: Gold, green tints
Nose: Rich and complex, notes of orange, lemon and other citrus fruits, hints of figs, flint stone, vanilla, toast, saline.
Taste: Salt, citrus, mushrooms,primary fruit, mouthwatering acidity, structured and concentrated, full bodied, well balanced minerality, very intense and longafter-taste.
Pairing Suggestions: Perfect paired with seafood and fish cooked in any style (grilled, fried or steamed).
ABV: 13.5%
pH: 3.08 Res. Sugar: 0.0 gr/lt TA: 6.5 gr/lt VA: 0.43 gr/lt
Production: 5,227 bottles
Bottled: July 2024
~Winery~
Alcyone, takes inspiration from Greek mythology. She was the beautiful daughter of Aeolus, god of the winds, who was transformed by Zeus into a bird known as Halcyon. The Halcyon bird had the power to calm rough seas during its hatching period. Nowadays, Halcyon is a symbol of peace and protection and in fact, her legend gave birth to the phrase “Halcyon days”,the sunny calm days in the middle of the winter. Much like the power of taming rough seas, our Alcyone has the power to tame the immensely powerful Assyrtiko. How? By using various maturation vessels like oak tanks and barrels as well as steel tanks to let the wine mature. The grapes are sourced from selected plots in Vourvoulos, Pyrgos, and Megalochori, and partially ferment in large oak vats as well as cement tanks. We age the fermented wine further in 500-liter barrels where it receives regular battonage before bottling and cellar aging. The result? An elegant wine with balance and complexity between the minerality of Assyrtiko, structure and layers from the oak component as well as an expressive side from the use of cement. Despite the criticism on the use of oak in Assyrtiko, our experience from past vinifications shows that if used properly it adds complexity and richness resulting in a perfectly balanced wine with a long ageing potential.
