Pine Ridge, Chenin Blanc/Viognier 2015, Napa Valley, California, USA Citrus and apricot perfume highlighting the two varietals in a harmonious marriage. A medium-bodied but intense palate with tropical touches of mango sorbet; delicious and refreshing. More exotic than rich in style.
Raymond Blake, Food&Wine Magazine (IRE), October 2017
This week, Roger Jones picked his highlights from a recent autumn portfolio tasting in London for The Buyer, commenting that it is “always set out in varieties which is an excellent way to showcase the range each grape can provide from winemaker to region to country”. From a Pinot Gris/Grigio table, Roger selected eight wines from Gasper, Tinpot Hut, Innocent Bystander, Stopham Estate, Cesconi, Ca di Alte, Specogna and Vie di Romans, all available at WineOnline.ie while from the Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc table, he chose Blank Canvas, Cullen, Gabriëlskloof, Château Lamothe-Bouscaut and La Voûte, also available online.
In the UK press, Julia Harding MW reviewed Portuguese reds for JancisRobinson.com (including Herdade do Peso, Casa Ferreirinha and Quinta dos Carvalhais) and these will all be avialable on our site from next month on. Terry Kirby recommended Quinta dos Carvalhais’ Encruzado 2015 as one of his Independent.co.uk Wines of the Week.
On his own website, James Suckling awards 91 points apiece to the San Polo and Fossacolle Rosso di Montalcino 2015s, saying “some have called Rosso di Montalcino ‘baby Brunello’ merely because the designation is made from Sangiovese and comes from the same general area as its older brother. Yet in 2015, the wines live up to the moniker.”
Gabriëlskloof, Magdalena Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Coastal Region, South Africa Peter-Allan Finlayson of Crystallum fame uses Franschhoek Semillon with local Bott River Sauvignon Blanc to make a profound wine that is full of citrus freshness, white currants, waxy depth, succulent stone fruit to give a wine that wants to star in a glitzy party.
Fossacolle, Rosso di Montalcino 2015, Tuscany, Italy 91 points A dense and rich red with dried berry and hints of toasted oak. Medium body, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Solid center palate. San Polo, Rosso di Montalcino 2015, Tuscany, Italy 91 points This has plenty of vanilla and resin on the nose in addition to fresher blackcurrant and fruit compote. Full body, grippy tannins and an almond-like finish. Drink in 2018. (Available from October. Current vintage 2014)
