White Wine Marcel Deiss Alsace Complantation 2020. A complex blend of 13 indigenous Alsatian grape varieties, this graceful white wine opens with delicate notes of lychee, grapefruit, lemon zest, and almond blossom. On the palate there’s a mouthwatering freshness, smooth texture, and intense tropical fruit flavours which end in a pure and clean finish. The flavour profile makes the ideal accompaniment to fresh seafood, fish, creamy cheeses, and Mediterranean vegetables. Domaine Marcel Deiss is regarded as one of the leading lights of the Alsace wine region and has gone from strength to strength under the visionary leadership of Jean Michel Deiss who is the grandson of the estate’s founder. The Deiss family have been making wine in the village of Bergheim since 1744 and Jean Michel’s approach to winemaking combines time-honoured artisanal tradition with modern equipment. Jean Michel also has a reputation for being something of a maverick thanks to his innovations which include replanting many of his Grand Cru sites with a diverse range of grape varieties to make field blends. He has also worked to revive forgotten indigenous Alsatian grape varieties which are currently not accepted by the regulations of the Alsace appellation.
2020
White Wine Marcel Deiss Alsace Complantation 2020
White Wine Markus Huber Berg Erste Lage Riesling 2020. Serve well chilled. Markus Huber’s eponymous winery is set in Austria’s verdant Traisental Valley, the country’s smallest wine growing region which is known for its minerally full-bodied Riesling and Gruner Veltliner white wines. Markus is one of Austria’s most promising young winemakers and was named Falstaff Winemaker of the Year” at an awards ceremony which is considered the Oscars of the Austrian wine industry. This single vineyard wine comes from a steep east-facing slope with a gradient of 25% where the Riesling vines have to be planted on terraces. This special vineyard has very poor soils with lots of limestone which forces the vines to struggle, producing small quantities of particularly concentrated and aromatic fruit. Once in the winery the fruit is left to macerate on the skins for 12 hours before being fermented in stainless steel tanks. The young wine is then aged on the lees for 8 months in acacia wood barrels to add polish and a creamier texture. Lemon peel, spring blossom and grapefruit define the nose while the first sip reveals a crisp, refreshing acidity, medium body, and bright citrus and stone fruit flavours ending in a pure, clean finish with hints of stony minerality.
2020
White Wine Masciarelli Castello di Semivicoli Pecorino 2020. The Abruzzo region of Italy was largely dominated by low quality bulk wine production before Gianni Masciarelli arrived on the scene in the late 1970s. Gianni was inspired by a summer spent in Champagne to found his very own winery which would prioritise low yields and an artisanal approach to winemaking. He began in 1981 with just 5 acres of vines surrounding his grandfather’s house in San Martino sulla Marrucina using a combination of indigenous and international grape varieties which suited the local soils. It wasn’t long before Gianni’s efforts were noticed by the rest of Italy and the world, winning him a total of 29 Tre Bicchieri awards from the legendary Gambero Rosso wine guide. Although Gianni sadly passed away in 2008, the property continues to be run by his wife and oldest daughter and has now expanded to 900 acres of vineyards spread across Abruzzo’s four provinces. This elegant and vivacious white wine is named after the imposing Castello di Semivicoli, a 17th century palace surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. The Pecorino grapes grown here are harvested in September to preserve plenty of freshness alongside the ripe fruit flavours. Once in the winery the grapes are macerated on the skins for a short period and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. The result is a fresh, crisp Pecorino that’s bursting with typical varietal notes of green apple, zesty citrus, and pear as well as aromatic notes of sage, thyme and dried oregano.
2020