White Wine Mullineux Kloof Street Chenin Blanc 2020. One of the top producers in South Africa’s Swartland region, Mullineux was founded by winemakers Chris and Andrea Mullineux in 2007. Since then the pair have won numerous awards and accolades for their work, including thirty 5-star ratings from Platter’s South African Wine Guide and Wine Enthusiast’s 2016 International Winemaker of the Year for Andrea. The winery has their own vineyards at Roundstone Farm in Riebeeksrivier as well as working closely with partner growers who follow their sustainable farming practices. Once in the winery the only additive used is a minimal amount of sulphur to express the full beauty of the local terroir. Mullineux are especially known for their Chenin Blanc, including this bottling crafted from top quality fruit from several parts of the Swartland. This wine is part-fermented in tanks and in barrels, adding extra complexity and polish to the final cuvee. Rich stone fruit and bright citrus dominate on the nose, with hints of vanilla spice, toast and woodsmoke coming through on the palate. The harmonious balance between freshness and rich fruit makes this a great wine to enjoy with food like roast chicken, pan-fried salmon, mature hard cheeses, and leafy summer salads.
2020
White Wine Mullineux Kloof Street Chenin Blanc 2020
White Wine Nals Margreid Lyra Gewurztraminer 2020. No need to decant. The South Tyrolean cooperative winery Nals Margreid produces high-quality wines characterized by the great diversity of territory in morphological and climatic terms that it’s typical of this part of Italy. The headquarters of the Nals Margreid Winery, renovated in 2011, is a clear representation of the mix of modernity and traditions that influence their work, as evidenced by a tasting room that has some cobblestone profiles dating back to 1764. The Gewurztraminer grapes are grown in the Soll area, at about 490 meters above sea level, on soils rich in gravel and clay. Fermentation takes place in steel, and the wine rests in steel for nine months before bottling. The vine has adapted very well to the cool and sunny climate of South Tyrol, giving wines with exuberant aromas and very rich, soft, and persistent aromas. The vinification in steel enhances the varietal character of Gewurztraminer, enhancing its floral, fruity, and delicately spicy notes. The wine has a golden yellow color in the glass, and its nose reveals a dense bouquet with aromas of exotic fruits. There are also juicy notes of stone fruit and delicate hints of saffron and nutmeg. It is delicate and balanced with tasty flavors of exotic fruit and sweet spices, complemented by a gentle minerality. This wine is a real treat with a long and persistent aftertaste. An excellent aperitif, it also goes well with appetizers, pasta, fish main courses, and Asian cuisine.
2020
White Wine Nals Margreid Punggl Pinot Grigio 2020. Drink it now. No need to decant. The Pinot Grigio Punggl from the South Tyrolean Nals Margreid winery is part of the Selection line, which collects high-quality wines and expresses the excellence of the most suitable parcels of the estate. The company, established in 1985, is made up of approximately 140 families of winegrowers, with 150 hectares of vineyards (70% white grapes and 30% red grapes) divided into 14 areas, located between Nalles, Val d’Adige, and Magrè, at an altitude between 200 and 900 meters. The monosyllable epithet Punggl is a dialect word that designates a small hill. In this case, we refer to the homonymous hill south of Magré where the octogenarian vines of Pinot Grigio grow on clayey and sandy soils. After the soft pressing of the grapes and the alcoholic fermentation, the wine is decanted into oak barrels, where it refines for eight months. The Punggl fills the glass with a bright straw yellow color veined with greenish reflections. The nose presents elegant aromas of orange, honey and hay. On the palate, it is deliciously juicy with good structure and a long and pleasant aftertaste that lingers for a long time in the mouth. It is a Pinot grigio of great character that goes well with fish dishes, or well-spiced white meat.
2020