White Wine

Simon of Domaine Capmartin has dusted off the historic traditions of Madiran and Pacherenc de Vic-Bil into a new, more progressive age.

He has set about significant changes amongst the vines and in the winery leading to his own unique versions of these truly exceptional AOP wines. Certified organic for the best part of a decade, Simon is now striving further with his sights firmly set on Biodynamic certification. Natural, low intervention winemaking are the watchwords. No added sulphur, all wild ferments

We're on the Loir here, not the Loire, about an hour south of the racing town of Le Mans. Jasnières is a tiny appellation with just 70ha declared, Domaine Gigou have 8 of those. Ludovic is using old vines grown on silex-flecked clay soils to prouduce outstanding and ageworthy Chenin Blanc.

The wine is split into thirds to age in steel, barrel and concrete egg for 10 months. Richer than you might be expecting, saline minerality and a red-apple ‘bite’, lots of thirst-quenching acidity lead to a very moreish quality.

DR. LO Riesling has just the right amount of fruitiness to balance the crisp acidity. On the palate it is clearly Riesling, but it walks the line between a fruity and drier style. The characteristic acidity of Mosel Riesling helps it finish fresh and clean. If shown blind it may not be recognized as alcohol-free.

Harvested from Grenache Gris. Skin fermented (naturally) until dry. The wine was then pressed and matured in 400 litre Ceramic eggs for 7 months. Considering the skin contact fermentation here, it takes a great deal of skill to produce a wine with such clarity and brightness. Beautifully pale pink in colour, the palate is initially one of fresh strawberries before a very smart pithy finish.

On the nose, this Sauvignon Blanc displays citrus aromas, of lime and tangerine. The palate features aromas of mandarin, tropical fruits and herbal notes. A wine with a refreshing acidity, great depth and persistence.

Notes of baked apple, peach, citrus and honey are to the fore whilst on the palate it is dry with a mouthfilling richness. Following fermentation the wine is left on its lees for a period of 9 months to add concentration and depth and you can really feel this additional texture in the mouth.

This a very aromatic and intensely flavoured wine true to its Marlborough origins. Its flavours are a mix of ripe tropical fruits, citrus and cooler notes of green fruits and fresh herbs. It is rich and full-flavoured style with a crisp dry finish which provides freshness and length to the palate.

Esk Valley

Pronounced and complex nose with savoury, nutty aromas and hints of fennel, ginger and white spice. The palate is fine, concentrated and textural, with crisp citrus and lightly honeyed stone fruit balanced by minerality and sappy acidity.

Cantine Nicosia

The long wild yeast ferment provides bready aromas and additional complexity to the wine. Dried herbaceous notes, including fennel and aniseed from the nearby Fynbos, dominate the nose, followed by a creamy lemon character. The palate is reminiscent of the nose, with great textural complexity (attributable to the long, slow wild yeast fermentation), and more herbal characters.

Fresh and lightly honeyed on the nose with nutty notes and hints of citrus peel. The palate is complex with a touch of mandarin, stone fruit, and white spice on the textured mid-palate. A subtle and multi-layered wine with immediately appealing freshness.

An enticing nose of white peach and pear with hints of fresh lime and gooseberry. Fresh and light zesty citrus notes and crisp acidity lift a textured, medium-bodied palate.

Azienda Agricola la Battistina

La Battistina, situated in the north west region of Piedmonte, is an estate situated around the town of Gavi, and considered one of the best sites in Gavi. The vineyards are south facing with chalky and mineral soils, which allow the Cortese grape to ripen to its fullest. The wine is aromatic, with zesty citrus, lime and pineapple notes with a hint of minerality. The weighty fruit gives this wine an immensely long finish.

La Battistina

A classic Chardonnay from Southern Burgundy - fine buttery and floral notes on the nose and a wine of substance and finesse on the palate. Some creamy textural notes up front reveal the discreet presence of oak, whilst on the finish there is some underlying minerality and a hint of citrus zestiness that provides long lasting flavours.

Certified organic and following biodynamic practices, this small estate of just 7 hectares is nestled on steep slopes in the heart of Alsace. A blend of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. A fine bouquet of roses and lychee, excellent balance, minerality and body with a pleasant fruity mango note and lengthy finish.

Kick-ass Gewurz, bursting with spice and more than a hint of lychees

Although this Bodega was established back in 1886, it had remained under our radar until last year when their Predilecto and the stunning Pancrudo showed up at a tasting I was attending. Since that lightbulb moment, we’ve tasted across their range and really love this Burgundian style blend of Viura and Tempranillo Blanco, released in its second year (hence 2 Ano) after some modest ageing in oak.

If these things matter to you, it was recently awarded 92 points by Tim Atkin MW in his annual Rioja report.

Weingut Oliver Zeter

With the grapes harvested at the end of Ocotber the long ripening season ensures a brilliant, luminous, deep golden colour with flashes of gold and green. An outstanding, elegant and balanced wine with captivating fragrances of white flowers, minerals, citrus, white fruit, pear and apple overlaid by subtle honey. The fine acidity melds well in the richness of the body and in the long aftertaste of mineral and fruit.

Terredora di Paolo

Top quality, biodynamic, Gruner Veltliner from the Terrassen single vineyard - seriously concentrated!

Citrus and herbal aromas - with typical spicy Veltliner notes and hints of green pepper and cucumber. The palate has mineral and flinty characters, oriental spice, and fresh citrus acidity on the finish.

100% Muscat of Alexandria, the wine is suave and sophisticated and finishes with a bright clean acidity. Ideal as an aperitif or perfect for seafood, roasted white meats, fish and semi hard cheeses.

From some of the oldest living Riesling blocks in New Zealand, this is a zesty wonderland of lime and joy.

A nose of fresh ginger, cardamom and jasmine over a rich palate of juicy lime, red apple and stone fruit, with generous mouthfeel and texture in the finish.

Bacchus is rapidly gaining recognition as the UK’s “signature” grape variety, producing aromatic and frequently quite intense styles of white which have been compared to Sauvignon Blanc. Blended here with 25% Chardonnay it has been both toned down and fattened up to give a really well balanced, lightish white, ideal for summer drinking.

Hermandad Chardonnay shows a pale yellow colour with greenish highlights. The nose is concentrated and intense with citrus, pineapple and green apple aromas, interwoven with vanilla notes from the oak and some mineral characters from the soil. With a great concentration and elegance, on the palate the first impact is ripe, well balanced by the natural acidity, with rich white fruits and toast bread, and light notes of vanilla. Its finish is long and persistent

Bodega Los Haroldos

Weingut Horst Sauer is named after its owner. Both Horst and his daughter Sandra (who joined the winery in 2004) are winemakers at their 37 hectare estate in Franken - situated near Wurzburg (between Frankfurt and Nuremberg). Their vineyards are focused around the ‘Erste Lagen’ (prime) sites of Escherndorfer Lump and Escherndorfer Fürstenberg. Escherndorfer Lump is a steep south-facing slope protected from cold north-eastern winds, with a top layer of limestone-rich soil.

This is the exquisite Escherndorf am Lumpen - a ‘Grosse Lage’ vineyard plot (a classification given to the best German vineyard sites) first recorded in 1655. This is on the steepest slopes of the Escherndorfer Lump vineyard where the vines are over 30 years old.

Franken Riesling is considered to be the most masculine expression of the variety from Germany (in stark contrast to the femininity of the Mosel) yet from the grand cru (GG site) this full bodied, bone dry Riesling is impressive in its structure and concentration.

Concentrated, spicy Alsace wine with a characteristically opulent bouquet, a fruity intensity on the palate and a long, dry finish.

Hugel

The wine shows concentrated marzipan and citrus notes, with underlying hazelnut and lime notes, which adds to layered complexity. The wine is seamless, with flavoursome and long finish.

Beautiful fruit purity of limes and ripe gooseberry, with tropical, floral and fine herbal notes, ruby grapefruit and white pear drop on the finish. This is cool climate Sauvignon Blanc – vibrant, mineral, elegant, balanced and delicate, with a long, layered and complex finish.

Iona

Its green gold color has some bright and luminous reflects. Its nose is quite expressive and complex. It evolves all along the tasting. It opens beautifully on exotic fruits, green mango, citrus, honey and a hint of menthol. The mouth is powerful, round and harmonious. One can taste fresh grape but also a refreshing and sharp minerality. It is a particularly long lasting wine.

Famille Bourgeois Sancerre

The Mellot family’s wine trade pedigree extends as far back as 1513 and their name has been associated with Sancerre since Cesar Mellot was appointed Louis XIV’s “wine counsellor, presumably a pretty good gig to have back in the 17th century – probably less so 100 years later. Suffice to say that the family survived the wrath of Madame Guillotine and are now one of the Loire Valley’s most respected players. Some 50 miles to the west of Sancerre, Reuilly is classic Loire Sauvignon country, its wines mineral and mouthwatering and providing the perfect foil to seafood or goat’s cheese.

A nose of pink grapefruit, passion fruit, and mandarin oil notes. The palate is rich with minerality and racy lime zest acidity, giving a lovely texture and intensity.

Bodegas Naia

Kakhuri N8 is a blend of 4 Georgian indigenous grape varieties – Rkatsiteli, Kakhuri Mtsvane, Khikhvi and Kisi, harvested in Kakheti, east Georgia. Grapes are exclusively hand selected and only highest quality, fully ripe grapes are used for production. The wine is made using old Kakhetian traditional winemaking method with skin contact. Fermentation on skins takes place for 7-10 days, once the fermentation is finished the grape skin remain with the wine for 6 months.

Full of rich dried fruit and nutty flavours and long dry refreshing finish are much easier to get your mouth around than the grape varieties that have gone into it!

Teliani Valley

From 20 year old vines grown in the south facing Arany Sajgó vineyard on volcanic white zeolite soil..

Pale green in colour with an intense nose. Fresh, with notes of gooseberry, pear and lime. which follow through on the palate. Dry and beautifully crisp with an elegant minerality which keeps the wine in balance.

Kardos Winery

This is from a variety of parcels on the ‘Butte de Chaume’, predominantly from younger (10-12-year-old) vines and predominantly from schist soils. The depth and luxurious texture from these vines is absolutely astonishing and seems all the more remarkable when you know that the wine is fermented and aged only in stainless steel. Harvesting is in small boxes and the grapes are cooled before a long, slow (4.5hrs) pressing in the cool room. Wild yeast ferment, partial Malo. Even at this ‘entry level’ and despite all the richness on show, this wine is beautifully precise and has exciting, bright, engaging acidity at the finish. It’s probably about twice the price of ‘yer average’ Anjou Blanc… which makes it quite outstanding value!

Chateau de Plaisance

Maison Roche de Bellene

Single vineyard, biodynamic and organic beauty. Notes of bergamot, peach and apricot - richness balanced by racy acidity.

M. Chapoutier

"Petit Guiraud is a fresh and precise Sauternes, and is the result of a long period of reflection on the wine style and its drinkability. As the flag-flyer for modernity and accessible pleasure, Petit Guiraud is a slice of luxury to be enjoyed every day." - Luc Planty, Director

Chateau Guiraud

A delicious off-dry style of Chenin Blanc with stony minerality, fresh just-picked walnuts, a hint of lime and a slightly sappy fresh note. The palate is honeyed with limeflower, apple, ginger and a clean mineral finish. The sweetness is perfectly integrated and balanced, resulting in a refreshing wine with good length. Will cellar brilliantly for as many as ten years becoming even more concentrated and refined.

Liberty School Chardonnay is sourced from key vineyard sites along California's Central Coast. Our vineyards in Paicines and Paso Robles give body and richness to the wine, while vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands add elegance, acidity and a tropical character. Santa Barbara County and Santa Maria Valley vineyards contribute roundness, making for a well-balanced Chardonnay with excellent varietal expression.

Beautiful pale gold. On the nose fresh aromas of lemon peel and pear are accented by notes of caramel that add a touch of richness. Bright stone fruit flavours of apricot and nectarine are balanced with a splash of citrus and creamy vanilla undertones, adding a silky texture to the wine.

Hope Family Wines

Distinct notes of minerality, combined beautifully with citrus and lime aromas on the nose are complemented by shortbread and dessert peaches on the palate, ending in a refreshing, lingering and perfectly balanced finish.

Longridge Wine Estate

Green sweet melon, rich citrus, lime and perfume greets you on the nose while hints of nuttiness on the palate ends in a crisp fresh finish.

Longridge Wine Estate

Citronella and lemongrass aromatics envelop more subtle primary fruit that include peach skin and naartjie peel. Then also hints of vanilla, baked apple, marzipan and honey. The palate possesses verve and savoury grip, with elements of crushed river pebble, rock salt and flint, but also a grainy, pithy textural element akin to walnut and hard pear. There is real weight and mouth-filling substance, even at 12,5% ABV with complexity gained from lees contact and completely integrated oak. Bone dry, savoury finish.

Longridge Wine Estate