Share those CRISP & EVEN whites, great for convivial supping, partying and palate liveners. One of our undoubted wines of the year is the biodynamic Castello di Tassarolo Gavi ‘Spinola’ 2022 (£17) – fleshy and pure with textural weight to journey to the table too. South Africa continues to deliver above and beyond with wines like False Bay Vineyards Chenin Blanc 2022 (£9). Make it Sauvignon with Maori -owned Tohu Sauvignon Blanc 2022 (£15.50) – another star of the year for all the right reasons.
KEEPING IT CLASSIC there are certain names that make it feel like Christmas – Bing Crosby, Santa … and Chablis. Family owned Domaine Fournillon Chablis 2020 (£19) always pleases. Richer and ready for big sauces is the Domaine de la Motte Chablis 1er Cru ‘Vau-ligneau’ 2022 (£27). A happy sideways steps would be the Juan Carlos Sancha Ad Libitum Rioja Maturana Blanca 2021 (£18.50) with that twinkle of oak or the Flametree Embers Chardonnay 2022 (£17), showing how classy Australia is getting (when it wants to be). And we can’t forget Sancerre with Domaine Emile Balland Sancerre Blanc Croq’caillotte 2022 (£26) or its Loire sibling Domaine Lebrun Pouilly Fume 2022 (£18.50) – another excellent Sauvignon from its spiritual home.
Some of our star wines to pair with LIGHTER FOOD – the Fattori Soave Classico ‘Runcaris’ 2022 (£13.50) is a real joy with lashes of plump fruit for lighter dishes. Seafood loves Riesling. Go bright with NY state Osmote Riesling Seneca Lake 2019 (£27) or a similarly dry German in Hanewald-Schwerdt Riesling Auf Der Pochel Trocken 2022 (£14). The wines of Alsace grace any table with their matching capabilities & a blend like Domaine Bott-Geyl Points Cardinaux Metiss 2020 (£18) is as close to a sure thing as there is.
When its time to PUSH THE (GRAVY) BOAT out in terms of style and impact then Carinus Family Vineyards Rooidraai 2021 (£27) is a Chenin par excellence, rich and supremely balanced. From Campania, Luigi Maffini Pietraincatenata Fiano 2020 (£33) is a glass full of sunshine. From Oregon the bottle age on the Craft Wine Co. Minimus Dijon Free Chardonnay 2017 (£43) has pulled this front and centre as a White Burgundy buster.
Classic White Burgundy is to be found in Domaine Christian Bellang Meursault 2021 (£45) or Domaine Belleville Rully La Cree Blanc 2021 (£36). From New Zealand the Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Chardonnay 2018 (£22) delivers technicolour weight to cope with whatever is thrown at it. Pair Turkey with a rarity with Bodegas Amezola Inigo Blanco Reserva 2012 (£25) and, you can’t go wrong with the Terre Des Dames La Dame Blanche 2022 (£18.50).
The evolution in wine will never end and WE ENJOY DISCOVERING THE NEW. Often it’s a reawakening of old technique as in orange wine, whites made with the skins as you would a red wine. The Biodynamic Casale Trebbiano Orange Wine 2022 (£18) is a favourite of ours. New to us this year was Alsace’s Cattin Freres Pinot Gris ORANGE 2022 (£15.50) and we were delighted to bring Smiley White V6 (£23), a multi-part South African skin contact, back into the UK. The zenith of this scene includes the Valentini Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2017 (£140) – rare and iconic due to the late Eduardo’s unflinching consistency and dedication to ancient technique.
