White Wine Vinos Sanz Finca La Colina El Loco 2020. Serve well chilled. With an illustrious history stretching back to 1870 , Vinos Sanz is the oldest winery in the Rueda wine region in North West Spain. Their winemaking philosophy centres around creating the very best raw ingredients, the grapes which go into their wines, in order to craft authentic and distinctive Verdejo and Sauvignon Blanc wines. Their El Loco or The Crazy One” is a careful composition of Rueda’s two iconic grape varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. This easygoing white blend is made with fruit sourced from Vinos Sanz’s prestigious Finca La Colina vineyard. To express the pure varietal character of both grapes, the fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 14°C over a period of 15 to 20 days. The enchanting nose displays ripe aromas of white peaches, mangoes, pineapple and fresh lemon zest, while the first sip reveals a crisp acidity and intriguing hints of aniseed along with rich tropical fruit flavours. The well-developed structure and poised balance of this wine make it an excellent accompaniment to seafood and fish dishes. For an authentic taste of Spain, try serving a well chilled bottle with a traditional paella or alongside a selection of cured meats and cheeses.
2020
White Wine Vinos Sanz Finca La Colina El Loco 2020
White Wine Far Niente Chardonnay 2020. Far Niente’s colourful history began in 1885 when the estate was founded by gold miner John Benson. Benson hired architect Hamden McIntyre fulfil his dreams of constructing the grand stone winery to which he gave the evocative Italian name meaning without a care”. The property was then abandoned during the Prohibition era and left derelict for decades until it was bought by Gil and Beth Nickel in 1979. Today Far Niente is regarded as a benchmark producer of Napa Chardonnay, sourcing their fruit for this bottling from the cool Coombsville region east of the city of Napa. Conditions here are similar to Carneros, with oceanic influence and well-draining gravel and volcanic ash soils. The fruit is harvested by hand and transported to the winery in small bins, with a careful selection of grapes to ensure only the best makes it into this wine. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks before the wine is transferred to new French oak barrels where it is left to age for 7 months on the lees. Peach blossom, ripe tropical fruit, and zingy citrus dominate the flavour profile along with hints of toast and spice from the barrel ageing. The creamy texture and medium body culminate in a long, generous finish with hints of flinty minerality.
2020
White Wine Franz Haas Pinot Grigio 2020. The Haas family have been grape growers in the picturesque village of Montagna in northern Italy’s South Tyrol for generations. When the current owner Franz Haas took over he decided to take the family business in a new direction and began bottling and selling top quality wines made from the estate’s prime fruit. These are wines of immense purity, freshness and aromatic complexity, and to preserve these characteristics Franz bottles all of his wines under screwcap. The Alto Adige is rightly famed for its crisp and delicious Pinot Grigios and Franz’s version is one of the best with a delicate fragrance, mouthwatering freshness and a very clean finish. The must is fermented in stainless steel tanks to capture the varietal character and then transferred to large oak casks where the young wine is left in contact with the lees for an extended period. This helps to add a creamy texture and nutty hints to the finished wine. On the nose there are seductive hints of almonds, honeysuckle, hay and bright citrus. The first sip reveals a light body, very smooth mouthfeel and vibrant acidity. Refreshing and easy to drink, this lively white is ideal to enjoy as an aperitif or to pair with fresh seafood or fish dishes.
2020