White Wine La Scolca Gavi dei Gavi 2021. La Scolca’s Gavi dei Gavi is widely regarded as the benchmark for the fresh and exuberant white wines which hail from the namesake small mountain village in the Apennines. Produced in a traditional style from 100% Cortese, La Scolca’s wine is crafted from top quality fruit rigorously selected from biodynamically-farmed 60-year old vineyards. In the winery the grapes are carefully sorted to ensure only the best are used for the Gavi dei Gavi. The must is partially macerated with the skins to add extra complexity and is also aged on the lees over the winter. These traditional methods help to create a Gavi dei Gavi which is both easy-drinking and bursting with attractive aromatics. On the nose there are delicate hints of almonds, toast, and ripe white peaches while the first sip reveals a crisp acidity, touches of minerality, and a very long finish. As well as making a perfect aperitif, this outstanding Gavi dei Gavi pairs very well with all types of seafood, leafy salads, and light fish dishes. The complexity and grace of this delicious white are a testimony to La Scolca’s 100 year history of making top quality Gavi wines.
2021
White Wine La Scolca Gavi dei Gavi 2021
White Wine Inama Vulcaia Sauvignon 2021. Decanting is not recommended. This is NOT your typical, run of the mill grassy, peppery, gooseberry-y Sauvignon Blanc. This wine is special and a must try if you enjoy Sauvignon Blanc but do not care for the grass undertones. This wine has an intense clear, yellow color and a bouquet of citrus and apple all packed up with an edgy mineral note. The first sip is dry yet refreshing with loads of exotic Mediterranean flavor bursting on your palate. Passion fruit and citrusy pineapple are welcomed strangers in the apple and mineral notes passing cleanly into the bright and somewhat unexpected finish of citrus, island fruit, and coffee beans. Great to enjoy as an aperitif, but also to serve with rabbit, grilled small game, omelet with leeks, asparagus, and shaved Pecorino, as well as salads. Put a chill on this wine of around 8°-10°C before you indulge. The fruit used to elaborate this wine was hand-picked from the Monteforte d’Alpone and Monte Foscarino plots in the Pedemontana and Soave Classico areas of Veneto. Azienda Agricola Inama began in the 1950s when Giuseppe Inama began purchasing small plots of land in the Soave Classico region, using only his savings. In the 1990s the family decided to expand their vines to include some red varieties. Today, the estate is comprised of more than 30 hectares of Organically cultivated vineyards in the heart of the Soave Classico.
2021
White Wine Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2021. Situated just north-west of Auckland, the family-run Kumeu River winery has built a solid international reputation for elegant, Burgundy-style Chardonnays. Despite the winery’s sultry northerly location, the vines are planted just 20km from the Tasman Sea and 30km from the Pacific Ocean which both help to keep summer temperatures under 30°C. This cooling effect ensures ideal conditions for creating fresh, aromatic white wines which really give their French counterparts a run for their money. Kumeu’s Hunting Hill Chardonnay is a single vineyard wine sourced from a sloping site which tends to ripen early and contributes a distinctive stony minerality and lemon blossom aroma to the wine. The grapes are carefully hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak before spending 11 months maturing in used barrels. This adds a smooth, rounded texture to the wine without overwhelming the bright lemon, pineapple and pink grapefruit essence of the varietal. Thanks to the mouthwatering freshness and intense fruit flavours, this sophisticated Chardonnay offers significant ageing potential and will continue to develop if cellared up to 2026. When you do decide to drink it, pair with roast chicken seasoned with herbs, lobster or strongly-flavoured cheeses to match the concentrated flavour profile of the wine.
2021