Mavro
Cyprus · Red · Limited (B)
Literally “black.” The most planted red on the island and one of the oldest continuously cultivated vines anywhere — in the 1960s Mavro and Xynisteri alone covered 79% and 19% respectively of the total area under cultivation. High-yielding, with pale-to-medium colour, low acidity and low tannin, giving simple red-cherry fruit. Most of it goes to bulk wine and Commandaria. Old ungrafted bush vines at altitude produce something genuinely interesting — pale, savoury, light — and a few producers now bottle it that way.