Chablis Grand Cru ‘Vaudesir’, Gerard Tremblay
Cartology 2022, Alheit Vineyards
Chablis 1er Cru ‘Montmain’, Gerard Tremblay
Terlaner Cuvee, Cantine Terlano
Cantina Terlano is well known in Italian wine drinking circles for producing Italy’s longest lived white wines. Many memorable wines from the 1950s and 1960s, which rank amongst the greatest white wines of the world, were made here.
Located in the heart of the Terlan wine-growing region and founded in 1893, it is one of the oldest Alto Adige cooperatives. At that time, 24 growers set themselves the goal of joint production and sales marketing. Recognition and prosperity blossomed from there. Today Terlano has approximately 100 members, it farms 150 hectares and has an annual production of roughly 1.2 million bottles.
Under the expert eye of winemaker Rudi Kofler, the wines are sold and marketed according to three different quality categories. Furthermore, special older vintages have been stored in the valuable 'vinotheque', so that today roughly 12,000 bottles from 1955 to the present day are stored and some date back to even earlier days. This wine collection of older vintages is absolutely unique in Italy and proves that Terlano’s wines are able to age harmoniously for decades.
Brilliant pale yellow colour with green nuances. On the nose green apple and white peach combine with fine nuances of lemon balm and mint to create the typical aroma of the classic Terlano. On the palate the peach is very strong, too, lending the Terlano its lively but at the same time very mellow character. The multifaceted, well structured flavor derives from an interplay of freshness and minerality and also has a wonderfully persistent finish.
Great now, but this wine will gain richness and complexity with ageing. A perfect match for grilled fish and asparagus but this very food-friendly wine is remarkably versatile and can stand up to strongly flavoured dishes.
Pouilly-Fume ‘Pierre-Louis’, Domaine Landrat-Guyollot
Saint-Veran ‘Tradition’, Domaine des Deux Roches
Lugana ‘i Frati’, Ca dei Frati
Meandro Branco, Quinta do Vale Meao
Vito, Xito and Luisa Olazabal represent the 5th and 6th generations to oversee the Douro’s most iconic estate. The huge meander in the Douro in which the estate sits provides the name for Vale Meao’s ‘second’ wine, but forget any ideas of compromise here: it’s a triumph in its own right. The 300 hectare property was purchased in 1877 unplanted, by the famous Dona Antonia Adelaide Ferreira - whose descendants now run Vale Meao - and was transformed by hundreds of workers into the 'chateau' and vineyards by 1894. Making some of Portugal's most outstanding reds is all very well but the family realised that when they wanted to drink white wine, they were having to buy from elsewhere; so they decided to make their own! Years of experience gave Xito the keen eye to spot some great vineyards of Arinto and Rabigato, just up the road from his Quinta. In the Meandro Branco we have unexpected freshness and class, for a lowland Douro white. The blend proportions change a little each year, with Rabigato being just dominant. The Rabigato brings a little body, riper fruits and floral elegance to Arinto’s fresh acidity, citrus and green fruit. Schist soils and a touch of lees bring textural minerality.
This drinks a little bit like really good Chablis but with a bit more zing. Delicious with fine fish dishes: dover sole grilled with a butter sauce...mmm