Domaine Porto Carras Malagouzia
Ever having tried Domaine Porto Carras‘ sparkling wine Yliana I’ve been wanting to try more of the winery’s wines. During my next trip to Greece I kept a look out for the domaine’s wines and happily found one. And not just any wine, my new (Greek) obsession Malagousia.
Malagousia (or Malagouzia) is an aromatic white grape grown primarily in central Greece and Greek Macedonia. The pale yellow wines which are given by Malagousia have intense aromatic content that refers to white flesh fruits such as peach, fresh aromatic herbs, green pepper and citrus, while some notes of muscat stand out. According to Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, Malagousia’s resurgence started in the vineyards of Porto Carras.
In the mid 1970s Professor Logothetis rented a small plot from the domaine in order to plant and study some rare grapes. Among them our Cinderella grape here. Evangelos Gerovassiliou, then winemaker at Carras, quickly realized the unique character and potential of the grape and began making it for the domaine. He also planted it in his own vineyards and has since made his own stunning 
Malagousia wines. However, while Gerovassiliou’s deft winemaking may have been responsible for the grape’s quick popularity; it was Roxani Matsa who was instrumental in helping propagate it so widely. From her Attica winery, Matsas Estate, she gave away large numbers of vine to any producers interested in growing it.
Domaine Porto Carras Malagouzia 2016 Tasting Notes
An organic wine from PGI Halkidiki in northern Greece, Domaine Porto Carras Malagouzia was worth every second it took me to track it down. Which admittedly probably didn’t take very long at all.
Beautiful aromatics just leapt out of the glass here. White stone fruits, melon, and hints of passion fruit complimented by herbal tones of basil and mint. Sipping revealed juicy white nectarine, tropical fruits, splashes of citrus, and fresh basil with a mineral, slightly salty finish. Silky in the mouth with a tangy acid, medium body and finish, and 13.5% abv.
Really gorgeous wine. Looking forward to more wines from this domaine and more examples of the grape!