Ktima Gerovassiliou – White 2019

The entry-level white from Ktima Gerovassiliou, a PGI Epanomi blend of Assyrtiko and Malagousia, can rightfully be considered a classic of this combination. Evangelos Gerovassiliou, widely credited as the savior of the Malagousia grape, opts for an earlier harvest and a fruitier aromatic profile in his Malagousia wines – a distinctly clear peach fruit character is particularly signature. And it clearly dominates this wine as well.

This makes the wine a genuine alternative to the marriage of international Sauvignon Blanc with indigenous Assyrtiko – especially for those who appreciate fruity aromas in their wine but find the Assyrtiko-Sauvignon Blanc blend either too tannic or drifting too far into exotic territory. A wine that nobody at a summer gathering will find anything to complain about! The Assyrtiko contributes crisp acidity. Admittedly, this entry-level wine isn't quite as full-bodied and complex as the single-varietal Malagousia, but the finish is still remarkable. A superb 93 points. Available in the 2019 vintage for €13.69.

A noteworthy postscript: Comparing this with the estate's single-varietal Malagousia from the 2021 vintage reveals just how brilliant the combination of Malagousia with Assyrtiko really is. The well-known single-varietal wine completely lacks its typical expressive peach notes in the 2021 vintage – the culprit was an early harvest forced by an approaching heatwave. For the blending partner, this was irrelevant, because the Assyrtiko vine provides the acidity, and the Malagousia only needs to deliver aromatics, not maintain the wine's structure.