White Wine Cakebread Chardonnay 2020. The Cakebread family’s love affair with wine began in the 1970s when estate founder Jack Cakebread visited friends in Napa Valley and was so enchanted by what he saw that he returned the next day to buy their land. What started out as a modest family-run winery based in Rutherford has now blossomed into a globally-recognised producer with seven family members involved in the running of the company. In total Cakebread Cellars has 225 hectares of vines across 13 different vineyard sites which allow them to craft complex, powerful wines which express the character of the local terroir. For this Chardonnay head winemaker Stephanie Jacobs sources grapes from cool climate vineyards in southern Napa along with some fruit from northern Napa with riper, more tropical fruit flavours for a harmonious and balanced wine. On the nose there are rich notes of honeydew melon, apple, citrus and peach while the first sip reveals a smooth, well-rounded texture and long finish with hints of caramel, toast, and baking spice from the oak ageing. The luscious, creamy flavour profile makes this a great wine to enjoy with roast chicken, rich pasta dishes, leafy salads and hearty recipes like moussaka or aubergine parmigiana.
2020
White Wine Cakebread Chardonnay 2020
White Wine Calera Central Coast Chardonnay 2020. Josh Jensen founded Calera in 1974 after a long search for the ideal terroir to create elegant Burgundian-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines with a distinctive California character. The visionary winemaker eventually found the perfect spot in the Gabilan Mountains in what is now called the Mt. Harlan AVA. Today the Calera estate consists of 31 hectares which are certified as organic and have an average altitude of 670 metres above sea level. Calera’s Central Coast Chardonnay showcases the elegance and finesse of the estate’s wines which have helped establish the region as one of California’s rising stars. Grapes for this bottling are sourced from some of the Central Coast’s finest vineyards where the proximity to the Pacific Ocean and moderate altitude help to moderate the hot summer conditions. This makes it ideal for premium winemaking by helping to preserve the natural freshness and aromatics of the Chardonnay grape. Once in the winery the grapes are pressed and the wine is fermented and aged in French oak barrels. Calera uses just 5% new oak barrels to minimise the oak influence and avoid overwhelming the delicate character of the grape variety and the terroir. Luscious tropical fruit, lemon zest, apple and cedar notes define the nose while on the palate there are hints of brioche, toasted nuts, pineapple and mango.
2020
White Wine Capichera VT Vendemmia Tardiva 2020. Capichera is a winery located off the Italian mainland, in a rocky corner of Sardinia. The winery creates beautiful expressions of Vermentino, Carignan and Syrah, grown in granite-rich soils near the town of Arzachena, on the island’s northern side. Their history is closely intertwined with the history of top-quality Vermentino. Capichera pioneered the method of barrique ageing of the grape, allowing it to fully express all of its curious characteristics. The phrase Vendemmia Tardiva” which this wine takes its name from essentially means late harvest. This allows the Vermentino to reach a state of overripeness, sometimes completely drying out on the vine, but retaining high levels of residual sugar. The result is an explosive, high-alcohol wine, with hints of sweetness and intensely concentrated fruits. Capichera’s VT exhibits a powerful bouquet, with notes of orange, lemon and honey mingling with floral and herbal elements. Despite the residual sugar, it is a dry wine, with a warm liqueur-like mouthfeel and comforting notes of orange peel, lime zest, walnut and saline. The finish stays with you for a while. It will pair well with seafood main courses or pasta with a pesto sauce.
2020