White Wine Livon Braide Alte 2018. Dorino Livon pieced together his namesake winery over the years, beginning with the first vineyards he bought in 1964 in the rolling hills of Collio close to Italy’s border with Slovenia. Today the estate is still owned by the original Livon family, and specialises in producing delicious white wines which offer tremendous value for money. The iconic single vineyard Braide Alte is considered to be the equivalent of a Grand Cru” by the Livon family. This bottling is a careful composition of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and the indignenous Picolit and Moscato grapes which all grow in the Braide Alte vineyard in Dolegna del Collio. Once in the winery the juice is fermented in new oak barrels which are kept at 14° to 16°C and the young wine is then matured in these barrels for around 8 months until bottling. Enticing peaches, apricots, and honeydew melon notes burst out of the glass followed by subtle hints of cream, toast, and vanilla spice. The first sip reveals a medium body accompanied by a core of ripe orchard fruit and a well-rounded texture. This elegant white is ideal to serve as a refreshing aperitif or alongside roast chicken, grilled salmon, or leafy salads.
2018
White Wine Livon Braide Alte 2018
White Wine Lothian Vineyards Chardonnay 2018. Serve well chilled. The cool climate of Elgin is ideal for producing elegant Burgundian-style whites and this example from Lothian Vineyards is no exception. This stunning wine is made with top quality grapes from the estate’s three blocks of Chardonnay vines which are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness. On arrival at the winery the grapes are pressed as whole bunches and allowed a period of skin contact to add complexity and structure to the wine. Following fermentation in stainless steel tanks to preserve the graceful varietal character, the young wine is transferred to French oak barrels for 10 months. The result is a richly-flavoured white wine with enticing notes of white peach, apricot, vanilla, and lemon zest. On the palate there is a full body, intense flavours, and firm structure which will help the wine to age gracefully over the next five years or so. Lothian Vineyards sits on the banks of the Palmiet River and boasts perfectly-sited vineyards planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Riesling. This stunning estate was born of the Wilson family’s long search to find the ideal spot to produce Burgundian-style red and white wines and now produces some of Elgin’s most elegant bottlings.
2018
White Wine Marani Satrapezo 10 Qvevri Rkatsiteli 2018. Marani are based in the historic wine-making region of Kakheti and own three vineyards that span both sides of the gorgeous Alazani River. While a small portion of their vineyards are devoted to international varieties of grape, such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, the majority is given over to native Georgian fruits. They remain innovative, but Marani also cultivate a strong connection to Georgia’s ancient wine-making history. Archaeological digs in Georgia have discovered enormous clay amphoras for fermentation, known as Qvevri, dating back 4 thousand years.
2018