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 White wines for a change!
For the month of April, I have chosen some interesting white wines with both complexity and character. Among my favourites :
Chateau Haut Garrigue, Wild Earth Vineyards, 2007
100% Sauvignon Blanc. Price : 7.50€
A recent discovery . Produced by Sean & Caroline Feely. Chateau Haut Garrigue is a boutique vineyard with environmently-friendly wine making methods.
Lemon green colour with intense fruity, floral aromas of passion fruit, gooseberry, bergamot and acacia blossom. Dry, racy acidity, medium bodied with an intense fruity palate lingering on a fresh, citrusy finish. Limited availability. Wonderful with a fresh seafood platter.
Alpha du Joncal, 2005,
An interesting blend of semillon, muscadelle, sauvignon blanc and sauvignon gris grape varieties. Price : 15.00€
Produced by ex-fighter pilot Roland Tatard and his lovely wife Joelle,
Alpha du Joncal is consistently featured in the French Guide Hachette.
Intense, warm, fruity and floral aromas of orange peel, linden tree and honeysuckle.
Beautifully balanced acidity. Full bodied and ‘gras’ (a great French word for describing a wine - but no equivalent in English - the nearest I can get is ’oily’ - or viscous - ) , with flavours of candied orange peel, apricots, ginger and an amazing long finish.
Condrieu - Gilbert Chirat - 2005
Viognier grape variety. Price: 22.00€
Distinctive and fashionable white wine made in minuscule quantities in the northern Rhône. It is made exclusively from the Viognier grape, which manages the unusual combination of a pronounced yet elusive perfume with substantial body. Viognier produces a wine high in colour, and alcohol, and a very particular perfume reminiscent of apricots, peaches and blossom.
Gilbert chirat’s condrieu has a wonderful array of floral aromas from orange blossom, and honeysuckle, to succulant fruity aromas of fresh peaches, orange pith and hints of pink grapefruit. Lovely fresh acidity, dry, full bodied with intense flavours of dried fruits, and quince and a long seductive, mineral finish.
www.eymetwines.com Tel 06 22 56 19 80 email: mitch@eymetwines.com |
Mitch O'Sullivan