White Wine Allram Ried Heiligenstein Riesling 2019. The Allram family have been producing sensational white wines in Austria’s prestigious Kamptal region for decades and own some truly exceptional vineyards in the prized Heiligenstein, Gaisberg, and Renner crus. Today the estate is run by Michaela Haas-Allram and her husband Erich who took over from her parents in 1992. The couple strive to produce delicious and elegant wines using the best quality fruit possible, which is why they practice organic and sustainable agriculture across their estate. This elegant Riesling expresses the complexity of their Heiligenstein vineyard which is arguably the Kamptal’s most famous site. The vines are planted on 270 million year old sandstone and volcanic soils which help to add grace and elegance to the finished wine, balancing out the rich fruit flavours. Full-bodied with a powerful structure, this is an intense and opulent Riesling that will respond very well to further cellaring. Enticing hints of white flowers, honey, orchard fruits, pineapple, and zingy citrus dominate on the nose, while the palate offers a mouthwatering freshness balanced by a rich and creamy texture. Ideal to serve alongside dishes like roast chicken, spicy Asian curries, or a selection of aged cheeses.
2019
White Wine Allram Ried Heiligenstein Riesling 2019
White Wine Anselmo Mendes Parcela Unica Alvarinho 2019. Born in Monção in Portugal’s Vinho Verde region, Anselmo Mendes fell in love with the Alvarinho grape at an early age and began making his first wines from the variety in 1988. Over the years he has consulted for many of Portugal’s top wineries and he also makes his own wines in Minho close to the border with Spain. Anselmo uses his decades of experience of working with Alvarinho to create a range of styles from crisp, light-bodied expressions to richer wines which are fermented and aged in oak barrels. This premium Alvarinho is sourced from a prime single vineyard plot that produces particularly pure and aromatic grapes. Once in the winery the grapes are destemmed and softly pressed. The must is then fermented in new 400 litre French oak barrels followed by 9 months of ageing with battonage or stirring of the lees. Hints of tropical fruit, citrus zest, toasted almonds and woodsmoke define the nose while on the palate there is a medium body, smooth, creamy texture and gentle tannins. The bold flavour profile and well-built structure make this a great wine to cellar for a few more years or enjoy now with creamy fish or chicken dishes or cheeses.
2019
White Wine Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2019. This classic Sonoma Sauvignon opens with attractive hints of honeysuckle, white peach, apple and pineapple. The first sip reveals a lively freshness balanced by exotic tropical fruit flavours and a hint of toasty oak on the crisp and clean finish. The fruit-forward and easy-going nature of this wine make it ideal to drink as an aperitif and it is also ideal to serve alongside vegetable dishes like asparagus and leafy salads or fresh fish and seafood. Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley AVA has been growing grapes for over 140 years thanks to the warm and sunny climate which is well-suited to viticulture. Dry Creek Vineyard has special significance for the region since this was the first winery to be established here in the Valley after Prohibition. The man behind the creation of Dry Creek Vineyard is David S. Stare whose bold vision for the region helped to transform Dry Creek Valley from a small collection of family fruit farms to a well-known wine region. The estate was founded in 1972 and has built a solid reputation for its powerful Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, both grapes which thrive in the Dry Creek Valley. The terroir is also well-suited to flavoursome white wines like this Sauvignon Blanc. David adds a small proportion of Sauvignon Musque and Sauvignon Gris to add complexity and also barrel ferments 16% of the finished blend for extra character.
2019