The Thema red blend of 60% Agiorgitiko and 40% Syrah is warm, inviting and good natured but not entirely serious.

On the nose, black cherry flaunting a vaguely citrus note, a dash of nutmeg, and a dusting of pencil lead give the wine an exotic yet cheery demeanor.

In the mouth the wine is round and plush with a soft, velvet texture and a balanced dose of toasty oak. Persistent, powdery tannins are a docile accompaniment to the swollen seam of juicy, brotherly love fruit which occupies a substantial middle seam. The wine’s evolution is linear, the acidity only gradually emerging, but it becomes quite prominent on the finish as the fruit begins to fade.

This is a very nice wine although as the fruit fades on the finish the tannins don’t quite mask a hint of sourness. The distinctive personality—jovial, yet tender and sort of campy—is worth the price of admission. It pairs well with the cheeky, jazz-influenced stylings of Nellie McKay’s Won’t You Please Be Nice”.

Technical Notes: Aged for 12 months in 70% new French oak. Agiorgitiko is the most widely planted red grape in Greece. It is noteworthy for its aromatics which are on display in this wine. Drama is a wine region in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace with a climate that varies from Mediterranean in the flatlands to continental in the foothills.

Score: 91

Price: $28 (Find more info here)

Alc: 15%