White Wine Santadi Latinia Passito 2015. Serve lightly chilled. Founded in 1960 by several winemaking families on the Sulcis peninsula, today Santadi is one of Sardinia’s most important wineries thanks to the vision and foresight of Antonello Pilloni. When Pilloni took over the management of the cooperative in 1970, Santadi was primarily known for exporting inexpensive bulk wines all over the world. Pilloni switched the focus to producing quality bottled wines expressing the unique terroir and traditions of Sardinia. Today Santadi is known for its delicious local wines which provide benchmark examples of the island’s typical wines like Cannanou di Sardegna and Carignano. This luscious sweet wine is made according to traditional methods by harvesting the grapes late when they have a very high sugar content. Usually the pickers will return to the vines several times to collect the grapes at the optimum moment of overripeness. The must is then fermented in stainless steel tanks and aged in used French oak barrels for several months. Honey, salted caramel, vanilla and a subtle sweet spice define the flavour profile while the first sip reveals an intense sweetness, rich full body and very long finish. The high sugar content makes this a great partner for fruity desserts although it also pairs well with hard aged cheeses and typical local dishes like fried ricotta ravioli drizzled with honey.
2015
White Wine Santadi Latinia Passito 2015
White Wine Tchotiashvili Rkatsiteli Reserve 2015. It is recommended to decant it for half an hour. The historic Tchotiashvili Winery is one of the oldest wineries still operating in Georgia and is considered to be among the most prestigious producers. Their history dates back to the 18th century, and today the company blends traditional Georgian winemaking methods with the most modern cellar techniques, making the most of the great potential of this territory and of the regional ampelographic heritage. This wine is produced from one of the best local white berries, Rkatsiteli, from nearly 50-year-old vineyards on the bank of the Alazani River, at an altitude of 500m. All the vinification and aging take place inside the Qvevri, the traditional terracotta containers. It is a complex and structured wine, capable of expressing rare and ancestral sensations. The wine is golden in color with bright amber reflections. The nose is expressive with intense notes of apricot and candied fruit and hints of honey and hazelnut. In the mouth, it has a full-body with a savory backbone, delicate tannins, and lively acidity. It shows excellent persistence. It is a fairly important wine, perfect to accompany fish or white meat main courses, but it is spectacular with spiced chicken, and in general with poultry and vegetarian dishes of oriental cuisine.
2015
White Wine Marcel Deiss Pinot Gris 2016. Regarded as one of the leading lights of the Alsace wine region, Domaine Marcel Deiss has gone from strength to strength under the leadership of Marcel’s grandson and maverick winemaker Jean Michel. The Deiss family have been living in the charming Alsatian village of Bergheim since at least 1744 and have an ancient family tradition of making wine in the region. Jean Michel’s unconventional methods have included replanting field blends containing a wide range of different varieties and working with old, forgotten grape varieties that are currently not recognised by Alsace’s strict rules and regulations. He also insists on organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard and winery, ensuring that his vines produce the best quality fruit possible. Jean Michel’s Pinot Gris is a fresh, light-hearted expression of this classic variety which has been grown in Alsace since the 16th century. Hints of ripe pear, apricots, and lemon zest define the nose while the first sip reveals a racy backbone of acidity, light body, and well-balanced hints of stone fruit and baked apples. Ideal served well chilled as an aperitif, this zippy wine also combines brilliantly with creamy cheeses, fresh seafood, and leafy summer salads.
2016