White Wine Tenute del Cabreo La Pietra Chardonnay 2018. No need to decant before drinking. Part of the Tenute del Cabreo label of Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari, La Pietra marks the first white Super Tuscan of Chianti made from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown on Tenuta Casa di Sala in Panzano. Coming to the wine scene in 1983, La Pietra came to be when the two Folonari brothers thought to vinify and age Chardonnay grapes as they already did with the Super Tuscan red wines. Resting at an elevation of 450 meters, La Pietra’s Chardonnay grapes demonstrate the zippy acidity and freshness of vineyards influenced by cool climate. The fruit was handpicked and gently pressed before 24 hours of cold settling. The must was fermented in a 50/50 blend of new and once used French oak barrels with completed malolactic fermentation. The wine was then aged for 12 months on the lees in 50% new French oak with occasional stirring of the lees to promote richness in the wine’s aromatics and flavors. The aging in French oak on the lees in combination with malolactic fermentation gives the wine a full body with notes of vanilla, butterscotch and raw honey on the nose. A slaty minerality and bright acidity balance the richness on the palate as white peach, tropical fruits and lemon curd shine through. This wine is a swirl of cream and citrus that pairs nicely with vegetarian dishes, soft cheeses and fish.
2018
White Wine Tenute del Cabreo La Pietra Chardonnay 2018
White Wine Tchotiashvili Muskaturi Rkatsiteli 2018. No need to decant it but best to open it half an hour before serving it. Tchotiashvili Winery is located in Talavi, Georgia, a land with ancient wine traditions. Since the 18th century, the Tchotiashvili family has handed down the art of making wine from generation to generation, and today the company operates making the most of the great potential of the territory, skilfully blending experience with modern cellar techniques. The Rkatsiteli Muskaturi grapes come from their own vineyards in Saniore, in the Kakheti region. The vines, planted 16 years ago, are located at about 450m above sea level on sandy soil with Cordier carbonate and do not require watering. Production is limited, and each bottle is numbered. Muskaturi is a Qvevri wine, produced with traditional Kachetian technology. Maceration lasts 7 months, on full skins with pips and stalks, without any additional substance. The result is a wine with a clear and luminous color with amber tones, which on the nose reveals the scent of autumnal flowers and dried fruit. In the mouth the wine has a marked taste with slightly accentuated acidity and powerful tannins. The finish is long and pleasant. Try it with spicy lamb or goat and smoked aubergines.
2018
White Wine Grattamacco Vermentino Bolgheri 2018. Serve well chilled. Vermentino is a bright and breezy Italian white wine with a sunny Mediterranean character accompanied by mouthwatering freshness and ripe stone fruit flavours. This version comes from Tuscany’s Bolgheri region along the coast where cooling winds from the sea and hot summer days help the grapes to achieve perfect ripeness while preserving ample acidity. Half of the young wine is aged in stainless steel tanks while the other half matures in oak barrels for 8 months to add extra complexity and a creamy texture to the finished wine. On the nose there are delicate hints of aromatic herbs, zesty citrus and salty notes which remind of the nearby sea. The first sip reveals a racy acidity, medium body, and pure clean finish which makes this a great choice for an aperitif or to accompany fresh seafood, leafy salads, sushi or fish dishes. The producer of this delicious white is Grattamacco, a tiny estate situated atop a hill looking out towards the sea. The 12 acre site was purchased in 1977 by Claudio Tipa who also owns ColleMassari in southern Tuscany. Grattamacco is blessed with an exceptional microclimate for grapegrowing and all farming on the estate is done organically and sustainably to produce the best quality fruit possible.
2018