White Wine Barbale Late Harvest Rkatsiteli 2019. No need to decant. Founded in 2016, Barbale Winery is located in the village of Bolnisi, in the Kartli region, one of the emerging areas for the production of Georgian wines. Barbale produces organic wines from indigenous grape varieties according to traditional Georgian methods handed down for centuries. The name of the winery is inspired by Santa Barbara, a Greek martyr and Georgian goddess representative of the sun and a symbol of fertility. This sweet wine is made with 100% Rkatsiteli grapes from the Khirsa microzone, near the border with Azerbaijan. They are harvested by hand late in the year to ensure the natural accumulation of sugars. The wine is fermented and then refined in stainless steel to maintain freshness and enhance the varietal profile of the grapes. Barbale Late Harvest Rkatsiteli is a delicious natural sweet wine with a golden color and orange reflections. The nose is surprisingly fragrant with a predominance of honey, peach, quince, apricot and pear, followed by delicate floral notes. In the mouth, the wine is light with refreshing acidity despite the sweetness and the explosive flavors of ripe fruit. It’s perfect with fruit tarts and blue cheeses such as Roquefort, but it is also excellent on its own, as a meditation wine.
2019
White Wine Barbale Late Harvest Rkatsiteli 2019
White Wine Barone di Villagrande Etna Bianco Superiore 2019. The Nicolosi family have been farming their lands to the east of Mount Etna since the 17th century. The lofty name of the estate is a reference to 1727 when Don Carmelo Nicolosi was made Baron of Villagrande by Emperor Charles VI of Augsburg. Since then the Nicolosis have played a key part in the local winemaking scene, helping to push through Etna’s DOC status in 1968. Today the property is run by Marco who’s passionate about crafting top quality wines from the exceptional Etna terroir. This stunning white is primarily composed of the indigenous Carricante grape along with a dash of other local Etna varieties. Fruit is sourced from the estate’s Milo Contrada Villagrande vineyard which sits at an altitude of 700 metres. Once in the winery the fruit is fermented with wild yeasts in 500 litre oak barrels and then left to mature for 12 months in the barrel and another year in the bottle. Wild and powerful in style, this white is sure to impress lovers of Italian white wines thanks to its freshness and complexity. Seville oranges, peaches and apricots dominate on the nose, followed by ripe orchard fruit and hints of toasted oak and spice on the palate. A great wine to enjoy as an aperitif or a partner for roast chicken, mature hard cheeses, or heartier dishes like fresh pasta served with a creamy sauce.
2019
White Wine Catena Zapata Catena Alta Chardonnay 2019. The Catena family’s Alta Chardonnay is one of Argentina’s most famous white wines thanks to its unique flavour profile and the passion of the Catenas for making inspiring high mountain wines at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Grapes are sourced from the family’s prime Adrianna vineyard which sits at 1450 metres above sea level in the Uco Valley and Domingo vineyard at 1120 metres of altitude. The Adriana vineyard is particularly prized for its calcareous soils and cool nights even during high summer which gives the wine a distinctive minerality and incredible purity. In the winery the grapes are treated with a light touch and are fermented with wild yeasts in large oak casks. The young wine is then matured in French oak barrels for 14 months. The result is a remarkably elegant Chardonnay with a rich full body, smooth creamy texture and ripe tropical fruit flavours balanced by a burst of freshness. The finish is pure and clean with zesty hints which make this a great match for roast chicken, pan-fried fish or creamy cheeses. While very drinkable right now, this is a wine which will age gracefully if cellared for up to another eight years or so.
2019