Ktima Gerovassiliou — Domaine Gerovassiliou Red 2008

The red Domaine Gerovassiliou 2008, a blend of Merlot and Syrah from PGI Epanomi produced by Ktima Gerovassiliou, has aged remarkably well for such an entry-level wine. I've been tasting a number of Greek red wines from the 2000s and early 2010s recently, partly to evaluate claims about supposedly "indestructible" wines that have become fashionable among some Greek winemakers. When I had the chance to buy this "house wine" from the 2008 vintage, I of course had to go for it. Admittedly, the Etos Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 from Ktima Biblia Chora is in even better shape at the moment. But this Gerovassiliou blend can compete with, for example, the Etos Merlot 2006, also from Ktima Biblia Chora — and those two Biblia Chora wines from PGI Pangeon are high-end products, which makes the comparison all the more impressive for this modestly priced Epanomi wine. In the nose, tertiary aromas are obvious — mostly truffles and undergrowth. On the palate, it is remarkably fresh, showing a lot of red fruits and some bloody notes. Tannins are smooth. A beautiful wine. Only the aftertaste could be a bit longer. It's an excellent wine that earns 90 points — astonishing for such a wine after 15 years!