White Wine Ktima Gerovassiliou Viognier 2021. No need to decant. The Ktima Gerovassiliou winery was born in 1981, from the idea of Vangelis Gerovassiliou to revive the family vineyard by planting local grapes including the almost extinct Malagousia and other international grapes. At Ktima Gerovassiliou, the vineyards are treated with enormous attention, and the newest modern technologies are combined with tradition through viticulture and winemaking to produce high-quality wines that reflect all the distinctive characteristics of the Epanomi terroir. The Viognier vines, planted in 1993 and managed in an ecologically sustainable manner, are located a few kilometers from the sea. Here the soils are mainly sandy and rich in marine fossils, while the climate is Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers. The grapes undergo a period of maceration on the skins at a low temperature to facilitate the extraction of aromas. Fermentation takes place in French oak barrels, and the wine is then aged on the lees to enhance its rich creaminess and structure. Ktima Gerovassiliou Viognier is a fragrant and very expressive wine with aromas of stone fruit and exotic fruit, peach and pear, and delicate floral hints of jasmine. In the mouth, the wine is elegant and has good structure, with a subtle smokey accent on the finish and a persistent and pleasant aftertaste. Try it with shrimps, crab, or lobster.
2021
White Wine Ktima Gerovassiliou Viognier 2021
White Wine Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay 2021. Although today the Kumeu River winery enjoys international respect for their elegant Burgundy-style Chardonnays, behind this success lies years of backbreaking work and uncertainty. Their story began back in 1937 when Mick and Katé Brajkovich left their small village in Croatia to create a new life in New Zealand. By working long hours for other farmers in the area the couple slowly they saved up money to create their own winery in 1944 which is now in the capable hands of the third generation of Brajkovichs. Although the estate sits in one of New Zealand’s most northerly wine regions, the proximity of both the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean create cooler conditions well-suited to producing lively white wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. For their Estate Chardonnay the Brajkovich family selects and hand harvests the very best grapes from six different vineyard sites in Kumeu. They then ferment the Chardonnay in oak barrels for a total of 11 months. The result is a rich, velvety-textured Chardonnay which exudes enchanting aromas and flavours of white peaches, lemon zest, and hints of delicate minerality. This is a wine which will reward extended cellaring and it will continue to develop and evolve over the coming decade.
2021
White Wine Kumeu River Coddington Chardonnay 2021. Known for their astounding Burgundy-style Chardonnays, Kumeu River is a family-run winery located just to the north of Auckland. The estate’s evocative story began back in 1937 when founders Mick and Katé Brajkovich moved half-way across the world from their native Croatia to New Zealand. They brought with them a deep love and knowledge of winemaking which drove them to work long hours for local wine producers until they were finally able to afford to buy their own winery. Today Kumeu River is in the capable hands of the third generation of Brajkovichs who focus on making exquisite Chardonnays that display the elegance, finesse and ageing capabilities typically associated with white Burgundy. This single vineyard bottling takes its name from the Coddington family who supply the grapes for this wine. Tim and Angela Coddington have been working with the Brajkovich family since 1998 and carefully hand harvest all of the grapes destined for this Chardonnay. Following the harvest the wine is fermented in the barrel and then matured in oak for 11 months. This creates a rich, creamy Chardonnay with deliciously fragrant and citrusy aromas which lead on to ripe peach, pineapple and hints of vanilla on the palate. Ideal to drink now alongside fish or chicken dishes, the Coddington Chardonnay will continue to age and develop in the bottle if cellared over the next decade or so.
2021