Panagiotopoulos Wines – Malagousia 2020

The Malagousia from Panagiotopoulos Wines originates from the PGI Messinia (more precisely PGI Trifyllia) but carries the PGI Peloponnese designation. It was tasted as part of an extensive Malagousia tasting comparing wines from all over Greece. At a considerable 13% alcohol for the 2020 vintage, it shows a correspondingly creamy structure, though the acidity is not structurally all that relevant – a weakness commonly attributed to the Malagousia grape in general, and a parameter where it falls behind the better-known white grape variety Assyrtiko. In this wine, the low acidity leads to a certain wateriness despite the aforementioned creaminess, especially compared to the other wines in the tasting. On the nose, it's slightly spirity. Freshly opened, herbal notes dominate, manifesting here as damp straw. After a few days, though, a rose scent does emerge. The finish is slightly lactic. Overall, a wine that comes across as a bit undecided, yet still deserves a very good 83 points.