White Wine Di Meo Vittorio Greco di Tufo 2008. No need to decant but best to open it an hour before service. Established in the ’80s, the Di Meo winery is located in the heart of Irpinia, between the small villages of Salza Irpina and Parolise. The property covers about 25 hectares of beautiful rolling hills, mostly planted with indigenous vines, and includes an 18th-century hunting lodge, once owned by the Caracciolo Princes. The Greco di Tufo Vittorio bears the name of the father and son of Roberto Di Meo (current oenologist and commercial manager of this splendid family company). The wine is produced with 100% Greco grapes selected in the Montefusco area, from vines of about 25 years, planted on clayey and calcareous soil. The vineyard, which is located at an altitude of about 750 m a.s.l., is exposed to the North East, with a slope of more than 20%. The grapes are harvested slightly beyond the perfect degree of ripeness and fermented after a short maceration on the skins. The wine is then aged for 36 months, 18 of which in steel and 18 in the bottle. The wine shows incredible aromatic complexity, with hints of yellow fruit, cedar, and propolis and delicate mineral notes of flint. In the mouth, it is warm and enveloping with a vibrant acidity that makes it suitable for various types of food pairings, from sushi to baked fish, from risotto with pumpkin and taleggio to white meat served with delicate sauces.
2008
White Wine Di Meo Vittorio Greco di Tufo 2008
White Wine Marcel Deiss Grasberg 2014. Domaine Marcel Deiss is regarded as one of Alsace’s finest produces thanks to the hard work and vision of maverick winemaker Jean Michel Deiss who is the grandson of the estate’s founder. The Deiss family have been making wine in the charming village of Bergheim since 1744 and today Jean Michel uses a combination of traditional artisanal winemaking techniques and innovative approaches in the vineyard. Amongst Jean Michel’s more unconventional methods are the replanting of his Grand Cru with field blends and his adoption of forgotten Alsatian grape varieties which are not permitted under the regulations of the Alsace appellation. His Grasberg Premier Cru is an expression of the estate’s most calcareous and minerally terroirs which is planted with Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Gewurztraminer. This unique terroir produces an incredibly elegant and refined wine which sings with aromatic notes of white flowers, lemon zest, dried herbs, and spices. With a bright streak of acidity, a well-developed structure, and intense fruit flavours this is a wine which will continue to evolve and develop over the next decade in the cellar. It is also ideal to enjoy now alongside dishes like smoked salmon, mature cheeses, and fresh seafood.
2014
White Wine Estate Argyros Vinsanto First Release 2014. No need to decant. Located in Episkopi Gonia Thiras, on the beautiful Greek island of Santorini, the Argyros estate is a family business founded in 1903 by Yiannis Argyros’ grandfather. Today the winery is run by Yiannis and his son. On the volcanic soils of the island, Argyros produces excellent quality wines from indigenous grape varieties. Vin Santo di Argyros is produced with overripe Assyrtiko, Aidani, and Athiri grapes, selected in the Episkopi area from centuries-old vine plants. The grapes, harvested at advanced ripeness, are dried in the scorching sun of Santorini for ten days. Fermentation is followed by three years of refinement in old concrete vats, with further refinement of four years in old wooden vats. The wine displays a splendid caramel color. The nose has good aromatic intensity, with notes of dried apricots, fig jam, bergamot peel, dried fruit, and cereals. In the mouth, it is incredibly delicious with good acidity and an excellent balance between sweetness and freshness. It is ready to be enjoyed now but could age for many years and even acquire an even more complex character. It is a luscious wine perfect with apricot or peach tarts or honey desserts.
2014