And still another of the catch-up-on-tasting-notes posts (see intro HERE if that doesn’t make sense)
Cantina Bolzano Eisacktaler Isarco Silvaner 2011, Alto Adige, Italy (£10.20 Mondial Wine)
There are some apricot and ripe citrus flavours here, but it’s one of those wines where fruit takes second place to other characters. It reminds me a bit of a Pinot Gris infused with the smokiness of smoked sausage, quite fleshy but nicely textured. B+
Winzer Krems Grüner Veltliner Trocken 2013, Niederosterreich, Austria (£8.99 Wine Rack)
Showing the young peppery side of Grüner, with typical tangy grapefruit freshness alongside the light spiciness. Not great but a tasty summer quaff. B(-)
Cleefs Chenin Blanc 2014, Coastal Region, South Africa (£8.90 Constantin Stores, Fountainhall WInes, The Leamington Wine Company, Taylor’s Fine Wine, The Bottleneck, The Cork & Keg, Stop & Save, Partridges, Russell Vintners, Cambridge Wine Merchants, The Devine Wine Company, Islington Wine, BJR Hanby, The Cave, Ray Wine, SA Wines Online, Village Wines (Ware))
Balances the musky per and lightly cooked red apple flavours with a backbone of tangy acidity and a lightly salty note. Rich but always fresh. B+
Ess & See Vermentino 2014, McLaren Vale, Australia (£13.99 Virgin Wines)
Starts off a bit plump and obvious, but then starts to show some restraint – I thought wines were supposed to open up with exposure to air… Ends up with clean saline lines, fresh herb and quince flavours and lovely tense juicy mineral edge. S-
(bit of the Florence Welch about the label?)
Cantina Cinque Terre Cinque Terre 2011, Liguria, Italy (£10.49 31dover.com)
Laid back style, with fresh pear and peach flavours pepped up by notes of walnuts and herbs, and with a lightly bitter, pithy texture. Really good, rich and unctuous, a white for red drinkers. S
Feliciana ‘Feudo’ Riviera del Garda Bresciano Chiaretto 2014, Lombardy, Italy (£12.50 Lea & Sandeman)
Deserves attention not just because it includes the wonderfully named grapes Groppello and Marzemino. This is a crisp, perky pink, like Sauvignon infused with Pinot Noir, with plump red berry flavour reined in by crunchy apple-like freshness. B+