White Wine Quinta da Romeira Morgado de Santa Catherina Reserva 2017. The historic manor of Quinta da Romeira dates back to 1703, although wine has been made here since Roman times. By the 13th century the region of Bucelas, located just to the north of Lisbon, already had a reputation for producing quality wines. Later they were favoured by England’s Duke of Wellington who imported significant quantities and even mentioned in Shakespeare’s Henry IV play. This bright and breezy white is typical of the local winemaking style which tends to produce light-bodied and elegant wines from the local Arinto grape. The climate here is maritime thanks to the proximity to the Atlantic which helps moderate temperatures during the summer. Quinta da Romeira has around 75 hectares predominantly set on low rolling hills protected from the storms that blow in from the coast. The grapes are carefully harvested by hand and vinified in stainless steel tanks followed by maturation in oak barrels. On the nose there are aromatic notes of white peaches, citrus, and honeydew melon while the first sip reveals a racy acidity, light body, soft creamy texture and pure and clean finish. The vibrant flavour profile makes it a great choice for an aperitif or accompaniment to seafood, fish and chicken salads.
2017
White Wine Quinta da Romeira Morgado de Santa Catherina Reserva 2017
White Wine Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Chardonnay 2017. Rodney Strong Vineyards is a family-owned winery near the town of Healdsburg with a strong focus on producing top quality Sonoma County wines. The estate was founded in 1959 by the former dancer turned winemaker Rodney Strong who was an early pioneer in planting vineyards in prime Sonoma appellations like Chalk Hill and Russian River Valley. In 1989 the estate was purchased by the Klein family who invested heavily in modernising the winemaking equipment and pursuing a sustainable approach in the winery and vineyards. This exceptional Chardonnay is crafted with top quality fruit from the estate’s Chalk Hill plots which were the first Chardonnay vineyards to be planted in the appellation. To add extra complexity and tannins to the wine, 97% of the must is fermented in oak barrels with the remainder fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and balance. On the nose there are decadent hints of vanilla, sweet baking spice, and tropical mango and lychee fruits. The palate offers a full body, smooth texture, and bold stone fruit flavours which linger long on the tongue. The intense flavour profile makes this a great match for summer salads, fish and poultry dishes.
2017
White Wine Schloss Gobelsburg Auslese Riesling 2017. No need to decant. Founded by the Cistercian monks of the Zwettl monastery in 1171, the nearly 1,000-year-old Schloss Gobelsburg winery is located in the Austrian Danube region. The first vineyards planted in Heiligenstein and Gaisberg are still among the best on the estate today. Since 1996 the fortunes of this company have been managed by Michael Moosbrugger and his wife Eva. Scion of a hotel dynasty, Michael came from the Arlberg to the Danube as a career change and took on his job with passion and flair, earning a whole host of merits. All single-vineyard wines, as well as the cellar’s finest specialties, carry the Gobelsburg Castle label. These wines show the characteristic subtleties of the appellation vineyards around Krems an der Donau, which are strongly influenced by very different soil structures and climatic zones. This delicious Riesling Auslese from Schloss Gobelsburg shows an intense bouquet of white tropical fruit notes, inviting flower honey, hints of passion fruit, pineapple, and stone fruit in the background. On the palate it is a fruity thrill, with juicy yellow exotic fruits, peach, pineapple, citrus, grapefruit. The wine is extremely elegant and balanced with lively acidity, strong residual sweetness, and fine citrus nuances in the aftertaste. It is delightfully tempting and shows good development potential. It is a great dessert wine, the perfect companion with apricot tarts and any fruit-based dessert. For a special treat, try it with Roquefort, or Spicy Gorgonzola.
2017