Pale yellow. Notes of tropical fruits fill the fine nose, yet it announces a wine with a fair amount of acidity. On the palate, its freshness strikes first, thanks to a hint of bitterness and only a little oak. In contrast to many New World Chardonnays that are overripe and over-oaked, this is a welcome change.
40 Knots took Schönburger and Pinot Gris grapes and fermented and aged them on the skins in Italian terracotta amphora. It has a gorgeous nose of marmalade, citrus rind, mulled apple, peach and tangerine. On the palate, this unusual wine displays a tasty broth of fresh orchard fruits, subtle herbs and hops that would pair nicely with a range of cheeses and charcuterie.
Ontarian partners Peter Gamble and Ann Sperling make this wine on their small vineyard holding in the Mendoza Valley. Dense purple in colour, the wine has a spicy plum and blackberry bouquet with notes of tar and vanilla oak. Full-bodied, dry with spicy black fruit flavours; firmly structured with a cedary, peppery note on the finish.
Full-bodied and rich, this superb Chardonnay is concentrated with peach, honey, quince jam, fig paste, apple, citrus, spice, cream and vanilla. Long-lasting with a pop of bright acidity, which is the hallmark of the vintage. Lobster and butter, please!
Earthy ripe plum scent with a slightly funky barnyard note that dissipates on the palate, leaving attractive ripe red cherry fruit and background blackberry. Well balanced, with just enough tannic grip. Easy drinking and excellent value.
Estate-grown blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Chardonnay Musque, aged sur lie for 45 months and made in the traditional method. Elegant nose of lemon, brioche, green apple, limestone minerality and grapefruit. Fine and vigorous mousse on the palate, lovely texture and verve with a nutty, fresh profile of citrus, apple, biscuit and vibrant energy through the finish.
From one of the world's leading natural winemakers and advocates, Arianna Occhipinti blends 15 to 55-year-old Moscato di Alessandria and Albanello from south western Sicily's limestone-laced soils in this biodynamic, non-interventionist wine. Native ferment, with no inputs save for a touch of sulphur at bottling. After 15 days of skin contact, this spends six months in concrete tank before it is bottled unfined and unfiltered. Slightly cloudy, light golden in hue, with white and pink blossom (slightly wilted), herbal lemon thistle, orange custard, apricot fuzz, pear skin, cold cream perfume, all on a creamy peach flan palate, slim at 12% and bristling with tense acidity. There's an alluring prettiness in the imperfections of this wine, so typical of her wines.