Lyrarakis Plakoura Vineyard Oak Aged Mandilari 2018

Region and Vineyards

This wine hails from the Plakoura vineyard, located in the Karkadiotisa area of central Crete, at 500 meters elevation. The site’s northeastern exposure ensures optimal sunlight and cooling breezes, which preserve freshness in this typically robust variety. The soils are sandy-loam, promoting excellent drainage while retaining enough moisture to support dry farming.

The head-trained, spur-pruned vines are cultivated without irrigation and yield just 6 tonnes per hectare, ensuring concentration and varietal expression. The Mandilari grape, known for its high tannins, dark pigmentation, and savory profile, thrives in this terroir. At Plakoura, it expresses not only power but also nuance, thanks to careful vineyard management and the site’s natural balance between heat and altitude.

Winemaking

Harvest begins with a green harvest in August to control yields and enhance quality. Grapes are hand-picked in mid-September, based on berry sensory assessment to capture optimal ripeness. Notably, 12% of the grapes are sun-dried for five days, intensifying aromatics and flavor density.

Fermentation occurs at low temperatures (below 26 °C) to protect primary aromas and avoid over-extraction. The wine is then aged for 12 months in oak barrels, split evenly between new and used French (50%) and American (50%) oak, in both 225L and 300L formats. This gives the wine a complex frame of spice, cedar, and cocoa without overwhelming its structure.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep purple with magenta hues.
• Aroma: Rich nose of berry jam, black fruit, chocolate, cedar, and dried Mediterranean herbs.
• Palate: Full-bodied, with chewy tannins, intense earthy fruit, and a long, savory, oak-framed finish.

Did you know?

Mandilari is one of Greece’s most tannic and long-lived red grapes, often used in blends but rarely showcased on its own. Lyrarakis has committed to revealing its full potential by producing a rare 100% Mandilari, highlighting terroir, concentration, and aging ability in a single-vineyard expression.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Slow-roasted beef with rosemary and garlic: Matches the wine’s structure and depth.
• Grilled wild boar or venison: Game meats echo the earthy complexity.
• Moussaka with aged graviera: Greek tradition meets local power.
• Aged blue or piquant sheep’s cheese: A bold, salty contrast to the wine’s dark fruit and spice.

History of Lyrarakis Winery

Founded by the Lyrarakis family in the foothills of Mount Psiloritis in Alagni, Heraklion, the estate began as a modest local operation. In the 1990s, the second generation of the family embarked on a mission to rescue and promote forgotten native varieties such as Dafni, Plyto, Melissaki, and Vidiano—some of which had nearly vanished from viticultural maps.

Over time, Lyrarakis developed a reputation not only as a quality wine producer but also as a cultural custodian, preserving Cretan vinous heritage. Their commitment to authenticity and sustainable viticulture has brought them national and international acclaim, with numerous awards and growing global distribution.

The estate remains family-run, with a focus on transparency, low-intervention winemaking, and showcasing the diversity of Crete’s microclimates and soils.

Region and Vineyards

Lyrarakis is based in Alagni, in the Peza appellation of Central Crete, one of the island’s most prestigious wine zones. The vineyards span altitudes from 400 to over 600 meters, benefiting from Mediterranean sunshine, mountainous cooling influences, and a mosaic of limestone, clay, and sandy soils.

The estate owns and manages several distinct vineyards, including:

• Plakoura (for Mandilari): dry-farmed, high-altitude site yielding structured, age-worthy reds.
• Ippodromos (for Vidiano): southeast-facing, producing expressive and mineral whites.
• Armi (for Thrapsathiri): calcareous and fossil-rich, ideal for aromatic, textured whites.
• Psarades and Karnari: key sources for rare native varieties and oxidative-style reds.

Viticulture follows sustainable and minimal intervention principles, with many parcels unirrigated and yields kept low to maximize concentration and typicity.

Wine Range of Lyrarakis Winery

Lyrarakis offers a broad portfolio that showcases both monovarietal wines and blends, focused on native grapes, including:

• Vidiano – Textured, mineral, and age-worthy.
• Dafni – Aromatic, with notes of bay leaf and citrus.
• Plyto – Bright, delicate, and floral.
• Thrapsathiri – Rich and structured with oak-aging potential.
• Kotsifali & Mandilari – Traditional reds, sometimes made in oxidative or long-aged styles.
• Symbolo – Grand Cuvée blending local and international grapes in a bold, ageable red.

These wines reflect Crete’s ancient winemaking traditions, interpreted with modern finesse and global appeal.

Did you know?

Lyrarakis was the first producer in Greece to bottle monovarietal wines from the Dafni and Plyto grapes—both of which they helped rescue from near extinction. The winery is often cited as the driving force behind Crete’s wine renaissance.