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Review	Product Vintage	Vintage	Rating	Date Sort ascending	Favorite
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Advocate			90	Nov-2019
Review “The 2015 Emphasis Assyrtiko is unoaked and comes in at 14.4% alcohol, with 1.6 grams of residual sugar, 4.9 of total acidity and a pH of 3.25. This is part of our vertical on this wine this issue. There were 5,000 bottles produced from a single vineyard in the foothills of the Pangeon mountains at 350 to 400 meters in altitude. This is from a year with high temperatures and increased rainfall compared to averages and with some rain at harvest. It still shows fine concentration, even better balance, ripe fruit and good flavor. The fruit lingers nicely on the finish – it’s not tense per se, but it has plenty of grip early on. Overall, this shows very well. It’s in a good place now and has plenty of life left. We’ll see where it goes in time, but let’s take that in stages.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Advocate			91	Nov-2019
Review “The 2018 Emphasis Assyrtiko comes in at 13.7% alcohol, with 2.1 grams of residual sugar, 5.5 of total acidity and a pH of 3.2. This is part of our vertical on this wine this issue. There were 5,000 bottles produced from a single vineyard in the foothills of the Pangeon mountains at 350 to 400 meters in altitude. The winery said this year had average temperatures, rainfall with “a warm and dry maturation” and “favorable” weather conditions. Fresh, bright and transparent, this is (not surprisingly) the most youthful wine in this flight, with the least development. Apart from its youth, though, it shows impeccable balance and a fresh feel with lifted fruit. The vintages here rocket up and down in terms of alcohol level this issue, but this seems to tread a middle ground that puts it in a good place – more concentrated than the 2014 but brighter and fresher than wines like the 2017. We’ll see how this ages, but I suspect the freshness will preserve it well. You can drink this now, but I wouldn’t. Even a year in the bottle will help it come together and acquire some nuance. After that, it should hold reasonably well.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Advocate	EMPHASIS Assyrtiko	2012	87	Oct-2019
Review “The 2012 Emphasis Assyrtiko is unoaked and comes in at 13.9% alcohol, 2.4 grams of residual sugar, 3.17 of total acidity and a pH of 3.17. This is part of our vertical on this wine this issue. There were approximately 3,500 bottles produced from a single vineyard in the foothills of the Pangeon mountains. When last seen, this Assyrtiko from a dry and sunny summer was pretty good. This time around, it is about as good, but it is showing some issues. It shows some of that charcoal nuance that the 2011 has, but here it is an annoying nuance rather than something that destroys the wine. The mid-palate depth is superb, and the structure is beautiful. This still has fine grip on the long finish. The texture has a hint of velvet. In theory, this has plenty of life left, but I’d want to drink it now for fear it might turn into the 2011.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Advocate	THEMA Red	2016	90	Oct-2019
Review “The 2016 Thema red is a 60/40 blend of Syrah and Agiorgitiko aged for 12 months in 30% new French oak. It comes in at 15.2% alcohol. The Syrah largely dominates this in flavor and aromatics early on, projecting a moderately gamey overlay and subduing the red fruits of the Agiorgitiko. Yet the Agiorgitiko is not completely intimidated. It certainly fights back. With aeration, the red fruits come out, and this becomes fresher and more expressive. This seems beautiful just now. The tannins are ripe enough so you can drink this today – about 30 minutes in a glass brings it around fairly well – but it should improve over the next couple of years, at least. It’s a nice value.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Advocate	THEMA White	2018	91	Oct-2019
Review “The 2018 Thema White is an unoaked and equal blend of Assyrtiko and Sauvignon Blanc, coming in at 13.7% alcohol. This, the winery said, was an “especially challenging year” with slightly reduced yields that enhanced quality. I might take that last opinion as some puffery, but it seemed to work out great here. This is gorgeous. Fragrant, with the Sauvignon Blanc clearly in charge up front, it has its share of herbs, but they are always just nuances that are well controlled. The Assyrtiko asserts itself early and often in terms of good structure and even better concentration. This seems to have a bit more stuffing than some other years, while retaining its balance and freshness. It’s hard to rate this bottling much higher, as I don’t think it will be a long-term ager or turn into anything more special, but it’s sure worth leaning up today. It seems like a complete package in its style and at this price level. It seems pretty terrific.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Advocate			91	Oct-2019
Review “The 2017 Emphasis Assyrtiko comes in at 14.8% alcohol, with 3.2 grams of residual sugar, 5.4 of total acidity and a pH of 3.14. This is part of our vertical on this wine this issue. There were 5,000 bottles produced from a single vineyard in the foothills of Pangeon mountains at 350 to 400 meters in altitude. The winery said this year had average temperatures, rainfall with “a warm and dry maturation” and “favorable” weather conditions. Yet, with those average temperatures, there is certainly an alcohol spike here. This is the place in the vertical this issue where the wine seems a bit immature and very youthful, although with aeration it shows some development (and a lot more than the 2018). Despite that alcohol level, it seems fresh and lively, although the fruit is certainly ripe. It doesn’t seem thick or heavy at all. Nicely done, this does begin to show intensity of flavor on the finish as it airs out. The finish has a fair bit of grip on it too. This is impressive in its youth. We’ll see how it ages, but it should do pretty well.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Advocate	EMPHASIS Assyrtiko	2014	89	Oct-2019
Review “The 2014 Emphasis Assyrtiko is unoaked and comes in at 12.7% alcohol, 1.9 grams of residual sugar, 4.5 of total acidity and a pH of 3.19. This is part of our vertical on this wine this issue. There were approximately 3,500 bottles produced from a single vineyard in the foothills of the Pangeon mountains. When last seen, this was beautiful, although it may have been a bit readier to drink than some. The approachability may have stemmed in part from the greater elegance and freshness here. The alcohol level is the lowest of the group. The concentration may be the least of the group. Yet here the wine has beautiful transparency and freshness that some of the others do not, if not quite as much depth and ripeness. There is a hint of that charcoal nuance that bedevils the 2011 and 2012, but here it’s a hint and you have to be looking for it. The 2014 vintage, of course, was a perilous one in most of Greece. This is a fine effort. I’m not sure the winery would claim this vintage as typical or great, but this livelier and fresher version has many virtues. I’d drink it now, preferably, but it should hold another couple of years, at least.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Enthusiast	THEMA White	2017	88	Sep-2019
Review “The Thema Assyrtiko/ Sauvignon Blanc blend offers a combination of brisk focus and opulent expression. The fragrant aromas are driven by pineapple and banana as well as lemon rind, and flavors of sea salt, tropical fruit and citrus follow. A go-to food wine that bridges seasons and flavors.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Decanter	THEMA White	2016	89	Jul-2019
Review “50/50 Assyrtiko and Sauvignon Blanc showing how well they can tango. Floral perfume (jasmine) and the smell of stored apples. Zing and minerality balanced against soft, perfumed fruit on the palate. Purity and melody rather than the exhilaration of Santorini.”
Ktima Pavlidis - Wine Advocate			89	Dec-2018
Review “The 2008 Thema red has held well since it was last seen, over eight years ago. It is 60% Agiorgitiko, the rest Syrah. It has adequate concentration to go with a bright and juicy finish that is laced with beefy nuances (the Syrah still firmly in charge). It is well balanced and elegant, and it tastes great. It is far more harmonious than it originally was. A fine food wine, this is actually a little better now than it was on release. That's what I always hope to see. It is a solid performer in its price category that is easily exceeding my original drinking windows. It should continue to hold for several more years, at least. If it has thinned a bit and become far more gentle, it shows not a hint of decay. Plus, it fleshed out a bit in the glass. This is, however, a good time to drink it. It is in a very good place.”

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