White Wine Tasca d’Almerita Sicilia Tenuta Regaleali Chardonnay 2019. Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years Serve well chilled. Golden yellow with hints of green in colour, the nose of this Chardonnay displays the intensity and characteristics of a complex, very well made wine. Notes of lemon, ripe apple, banana and spicy vanilla are all present. On the palate, the wine is fruit forward, intense but well balanced. Ripe apricots, pear and lemon with a hint of spice offer a great mix of flavour. The perfect acidity forms part of a rich and well balanced wine that gives a full body and a long finish full of character and flavour. Perfect match with creamy chicken dishes, seafood, pasta and salad. Tasca D’Almerita believe in combining modern winemaking techniques with traditional knowledge to create great wines of the highest quality. Created from grapes that are harvested by hand in late August at the height of their ripeness, the wine is then fermented in French oak for 15 days. Maturation also takes place in French oak barrels (70% new) and lasts 8 months in barrel followed by a further 6 months in bottle prior to release. The cool mountain location means that the grapes and subsequent wines produced are of an extremely high quality with good ageing potential.
2019
White Wine Tasca d’Almerita Sicilia Tenuta Regaleali Chardonnay 2019
White Wine Te Mata Estate Elston Chardonnay 2019. Serve well chilled. Pale yellow in colour, this Chardonnay is a superb example of this very versatile grape. The nose explodes with ripe peach, apricot and citrus notes mixed with honey and vanilla. On the palate, the fruit comes through together with smooth lemon, vanilla and custard. The wine is concentrated and complex with a great balance and acidity. The finish is long and lingering with honey and vanilla to end. A great wine to drink on its own or match with creamy chicken dishes, pasta, salad, vegetables and cheese. Te Mata prides itself on producing some of the best wines in the Hawke’s Bay area. By using winemaking techniques that encourage minimal intervention, the characteristics of this Chardonnay are retained. The different parcels of grapes are gently pressed and fermented in oak barrels. The resulting wine undergoes malolactic fermentation, unusual for white wines, and stays on the lees during this process. The wine is then matured in oak for 11 months prior to bottling. The Te Mata Estate has been around since 1896 and benefits from the very special place that Hawke’s Bay is. It has the perfect combination of terroir, sunshine, low humidity and a range of different elevations. Combine this with some of the best winemakers in the world and it’s no wonder the wines from Te Mata are so desirable.
2019
White Wine Tenuta di Castellaro Biance Pomice 2019. Entrepreneur Massimo Lentsch was already making wine in Dubrovnik when he visited Lipari on holiday and fell in love with this little Aeolian island off the north coast of Sicily. In 2013 he opened his winery here which is now the largest one on the island and specialises in making delicious and approachable wines from classic local varieties like Malvasia delle Lipari and Carricante. In total the estate has 20 acres spread across the island planted on rich volcanic soils. This crisp and refreshing white is named after the pomice stone which is commonly found in the vineyards here. It’s primarily crafted from the indigenous Malvasia delle Lipari variety along with some Carricante and other local grapes. The grapes are harvested by hand and fermented in acacia wood barrels for the Malvasia and oak barrels for the Carricante. After 6 months of ageing on the lees in these barrels the wine is then blended and bottled. Reminiscent of the crisp, saline breezes of the Aeolian islands, this refreshing white is bursting with vibrant citrus, white peaches and honeysuckle notes. The first sips reveals a bright acidity, light body and smooth texture which makes it a great choice to serve as an aperitif or partner for fresh seafood, grilled octopus or leafy salads.
2019