A super early bird look at the long rumoured dessert rendition Evangelos Gerovassiliou is the modern father of this once obscure grape Before all you clever grape buffs start wondering if it is related to the extended and varied family of Malvasias the short answer is no It was spotted by the late Professor Logothetis who plucked it from a vineyard near Messolonghi Where you know who died in 1824 and brought Europes attention to the war of independence and eventual birth of the modern Greek nation
In the 1970s on Logothetis suggestion it was planted at the then new Chateau Carras venture It was here that Gerovasiliou noted this variety and later introduced it at his estate in Epanomi founded 1981 The pairing with the bone dry Assyrtiko was such an inspired choice that it went on to attract a broad following It still continues to be a top selling merit worthy dry blend Malagousia is more than just the Greek vineyards answer to Viognier There is a similarity in profile but it is ultimately different In the dry versions one finds fresh basil and cedrat The apricot in the background is not dissimilar to the heady Rhone specialty In this late harvest effort there are previously unseen aromas partly due to the cellar handling
2004 was a protracted and cool vintage with no extreme daytime temperature One grape cluster was left on each vine and harvested midNovember It took a year to ferment in small 110 l French oak casks and was kept on the lies for three and a half years Alcohol is 13 ABV Residual sugar 100 grl Acidity tartaric 68 grl Convenient 500 ml bottles
Copper pink and golden hued Reductive style Floral white peaches Warm fruited broad middle palate reminiscent of orange blossom and apricot Concentrated Finishes with a long rich yeasty and oak lemon sherbet aftertaste The way it was made bolds well for further ageing Best from 20102014 Tasted November 2008
Wine: Malagousia late harvest, Ktima Gerovassiliou
Year: 2004
Link: http://www.gerovassiliou.gr/
Score: 16.5
Type: Sweet
Variety: Malagousia
Area: Macedonia