White Wine Colterenzio Lafoa Sauvignon 2018. Founded as a small cooperative by 26 local grape growers and landowners, Colterenzio is based in its namesake town which is surrounded by gentle rolling hills dotted with vines. This is the Uberetsch subregion of the South Tyrol which is known for its crisp whites and peppery reds. Today the cooperative has grown considerably with members contributing grapes from 30 hectares of vines which include some of the South Tyrol’s finest plots. This exceptional white is reminiscent of top bottlings from Pessac-Léognan in Bordeaux which produces some of the finest Sauvignon Blanc-based wines in the world. The fruit is exclusively sourced from the Lafoa single vineyard site close to the small town of Girlan. Grapes are typically harvested in early September at optimal ripeness, with half of the must fermented in oak casks and the remainder in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then aged on the lees for 8 months before bottling. The nose is remarkably complex with layers of honeysuckle, citrus zest, grapefruit and honeydew melon. On the palate there’s a mouthwatering acidity, bright citrus and tropical fruit flavours, and a creamy texture from the lees ageing. Well-rounded and polished with plenty of finesse, this is a fantastic wine to serve alongside roasted chicken, salmon, or rich risottos.
2018
White Wine Colterenzio Lafoa Sauvignon 2018
White Wine Domaine A. P. de Villaine Bouzeron Aligote 2018. Domaine A. et P. de Villaine is located in Bouzeron in the north of the Côte-Chalonnaise, in Burgundy. Cultivated since the Middle Ages by the monks of Cluny Abbey, this terroir is home to a very old grape variety: Aligoté. Abbé Claude Courtépée, an 18th century historian, compares Aligoté from Bouzeron to Chablis. It was in 1971 that Aubert de Villaine bought the estate with his wife Pamela. In 2003, he handed over to his nephew to devote himself entirely to wines from the Romanée-Conti estate. Since 1986 the estate has been working according to organic farming methods. This Bouzeron comes from a plot of ancient Aligoté vineyards on the best slopes of the appellation. These vines are composed of varieties with fairly low yields but which guarantee an unparalleled aromatic concentration. The Domaine A. & P. de Villaine Bouzeron Aligote is a lively and fruity wine, a pure expression of the Aligoté grape, but also has finesse and roundness due to the original character of the terroir. Its qualities of freshness and fruit can be appreciated by drinking it young in the first two or three years.
2018
White Wine Domaine A. P. de Villaine Rully Les Saint Jacques 2018. No need to decant. Aubert de Villaine, the man at the head of the Romanée-Conti estate, bought the Domaine A. & P. de Villaine in Bouzeron in 1971, with his wife Pamela. After being the formidable ambassador for the classification of the Burgundian climates as a world heritage site, he decided to apply here the same methods used at the Romanée-Conti estate: vines are grown in biodynamics, organic certification, natural vinification, grapes picked and sorted by hand. Pierre de Benoist, his nephew, gradually took over the Villaine estate. This is in a much more intimate setting than that in the Côte de Nuits and the estate produces superb wines in both colors. Whether they come from Mercurey, Rully, or Bouzeron, the wines have become among the most beautiful of the Côte Chalonnaise. The plot of Chardonnay that gives this Rully is located just below the famous Clos de Saint Jacques, a renowned Premier Cru of the appellation. Planted in 1990, the vines are exposed to the east, at the foot of the hill on a terroir dominated by limestone, and have moderate yields. This wine shows a very elegant nose made of beautiful floral notes and delicate citrus aromas. It is harmonious and powerful, tense but nevertheless warm. It has excellent acidity and a very refreshing saline finish. Have it as an aperitif, with fish, white meats, or mild cheeses.
2018