White Wine Quinta do Pessegueiro Aluze Branco Douro 2019. No need to decant. Located on the steep banks of the Douro, in the heart of this valley that gave birth to the best wines of Portugal, Quinta Do Pessegueiro is made up of three plots – Pessegueiro, Teixeira and Afurada – which produce exceptional wines and ports. Founded by Roger Zannier nearly 30 years ago, the winery is located in the heart of the estate and stands out for its extraordinarily modern architecture.All grape varieties on the property are autochthonous. They are the most adapted to the geology and climate so specific to the region. The predominant varieties are: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Souzão. Aluze Branco is a blend of Rabigato, Gouveio and Cerceal, fermented and aged on fine lees. This is a fragrant and elegant white, with citrus notes of grapefruit and mandarin, hints of apricot, floral aromas of acacia and honeysuckle, and a touch of flint. Long, firm and oily, but at the same time crunchy, with a fine acidity that gives it freshness. In the bottle it shows good potential for evolution. Serve between 9ºC and 11ºC as an aperitif or with all fish dishes, seafood, or some light meat preparations.
2019
White Wine Quinta do Pessegueiro Aluze Branco Douro 2019
White Wine Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2019. David Ramey is a big name in the Californian winemaking world thanks to his stints at top wineries like Chalk Hill and Dominus as well as Chateau Petrus over in Bordeaux. In 1996 David decided to found his own winery which boasts top vineyard sites across both Napa and Sonoma. David’s signature style is big, bold Californian wines which are bursting with plenty of vibrant fruit and a luscious, smooth texture and full body on the palate. This Chardonnay is made from top quality fruit from the Russian River where the cooler climate ensures a longer ripening season for the grapes. The result is well-balanced fruit with plenty of complexity and ripe fruit flavours. Once in the winery the grapes are pressed and the must fermented in oak barrels using wild yeasts. The wine is then aged for 12 months in a combination of French oak and concrete eggs to preserve the natural character of the variety. The nose is wonderfully complex opening with tropical fruit and hints of toasted almonds and fresh pastries. The first sip reveals a full body, rich, creamy texture and a bright streak of acidity that provides a perfect foil to the luscious fruity flavours.
2019
White Wine Rippon Mature Vine Riesling 2019. Rippon Vineyard is named after Emma Ripon who emigrated to Australia from England in the 1850s. Her family later moved to remote Wanaka on New Zealand’s South Island where they founded a farm, becoming one of the first in the region to start making wine in the 1970s. The idea to plant vines here was first inspired by a trip Rolfe Mills took to the Douro Valley which prompted him to experiment with a few rows of vines planted on a steep slope above the family house. Rolfe’s son Nick is a former Olympic ski champion as well as an experienced winemaker who has worked at top Burgundy domaines like Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Since 2003 he’s been in charge of the running of the estate which currently has 15 hectares of vines worked both organically and biodynamically. Riesling suits the cool climate in this part of the South Island and this particular bottling is crafted from mature vines planted on schist and gravel soils. In the glass you’ll immediately notice the intense fruit aromas of peaches, apricots and sweet citrus along with undertones of slate and white flowers. On the palate there’s an energetic freshness matched by a light body, rich stone fruit flavours and a pure, clean finish with lingering aromatics.
2019