Domäne Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner 2011 Niederösterreich, Austria
9.99
100% Grüner Veltliner planted on loess and gravel soils. The vines are 3 - 20 years old and were harvested with a good yield in an abundant year with ideal, dry growing conditions throughout the summer. Most of the grapes come from the Gobelsburg estate with a small balance coming from contracted growers. Fermented and matured in stainless steel. Winemaker Michael Moosbrugger. Alc 12.5%, TA 5.2g/l, RS 2.5g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 245 branches.
Nice green nose. A touch of spritz, bright acidity and a grapefruity finish. Not tremendously long.
Prieler Seeberg Pinot Blanc 2011 Burgenland, Austria
13.99
100% Pinot Blanc from the Seeberg vineyard on shell-limestone and slate, located on a hill at 225m altitude overlooking Lake Neusiedlersee. The grapes were hand-harvested in September 2011, pressed, then fermented in stainless steel tanks with temperature control and matured on fine lees until 2 weeks before bottling in March 2012. Winemaker Silvia Prieler. Alc 13.5%, TA 5.1g/l, RS 2.6g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 3 branches.
This was served very cold and smelt of nothing. Warmed it up with my hands and it’s spicy and really inviting. My fault, not WR. I was early. Quite full-bodied and grapey. There’s a sweet, grapey aftertaste. Good.
Three Choirs Annum 2011 Gloucestershire, England
8.99
25% Madeleine Angevine, 20% Schönburger, 20% Reichensteiner, 20% Phoenix and 15% Siegerrebe. Vineyard is south-facing on sandy loam soil and planted with a GDC trellis system with 2,000vines/ha. Vines are 10 - 20 years old and the grapes were hand-picked. The lack of rain during July and August resulted in smaller, highly-flavoured berries. Grapes were gently pressed in a pneumatic press and fermented in stainless steel vats at 16°C. No malo and bentonite fined. Winemaker Liam Tinson. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.0%, TA 6.0g/l, pH 3.44, RS 5.9g/l. Special Offer: Save 20%, £8.99 - £7.19 until 29/05. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 195 branches.
A very un-English label. Very grapey, muscatty nose. Fruity, off-dry and very Germanic in style.
Hatzidakis Assyrtiko 2011 Santorini, Greece
10.99
90% Assyrtiko, 5% Aidani and 5% Athiri grown on south and east facing slopes on Santorini’s volcanic soils. Harvested by hand in early-Aug with a yield of 2,000 - 4,000kgs/ha. Planted at a density of 2,000 - 2,500vines/ha and pruned and trained into a circular basket shape to protect grapes from the Meltemi wind and intense Greek-island sun. Not irrigated, thriving on the humidity of the night air. Phylloxera never reached Santorini due to the dry volcanic ash soils - so the vines are over 100 years old. Gentle pressing, then fermented in stainless steel tanks at 16 - 18°C for 30 - 50 days. Aged in tank for 4 - 6 months with 2 months on lees with stirring. Winemaker Haridimos Hatzidakis. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 14.5%, TA 5.8g/l, pH 3.10, RS 2.43g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 201 branches.
Little aroma. Ripe and spicy. Honestly, I have no idea if this is typical. Can count the times I’ve tasted Assyrtiko on one hand.
Leitz Rüdesheimer Rosengarten Riesling Kabinett 2011 Rheingau, Germany
12.99
100% Riesling from Leitz, a family-owned winery with a history dating back to 1744, situated above the village of Rüdesheim on the Rhine. Vineyards today total around 40ha. Vines are cordon-pruned, planted on loamy quartz soils and have an average age of 57 years. Grapes were hand-harvested in a very ripe vintage. Gently pressed with no skin contact, and fermented with selected yeasts in stainless steel tanks for around 20 days. Winemaker Johannes Leitz, Gault Millau Winemaker of the Year 2011. Alc 9.5%, TA 8.2g/l, RS 29.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 236 branches.
Not very aromatic. Medium dry but brightly acidic. Lovely, but young.
Birgi Grillo 2011 IGT Sicily, Italy
5.49
100% Grillo grapes grown at sea level on the bay between Marsala and Trapani on predominantly clay and sandy soils and with a marked diurnal temperature variation. Vines are 15 years old and low-trained. The grapes were hand-harvested late-Sept 2011. Cold macerated for 12 hours before being cool-fermented in stainless steel vats. No malo. Winemaker Giacomo Manzo. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.3%, TA 5.50g/l, pH 3.20, RS 3.5g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 235 branches.
Nice grasshopper/cricket on the label. Rich, ripe aroma. Lovely taste. Very different from other varieties. Spicy, herbal and interesting.
Malvirà Roero Arneis 2011 Piedmont, Italy
10.99
100% Roero Arneis from Azienda Agricola Malvirà, a family-run estate. The vines are 10 - 25 years old and planted on sandy calcareous soil and the average yield is 60hl/ha. The grapes were hand-picked and gently pressed in a pneumatic press. Fermented in stainless steel tank at 16°C for 2 months then matured in tank for a further 5 months. Winemaker Roberto Damonte. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.0%, TA 4.9g/l, pH 3.5, RS 1.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 189 branches.
I love this wine. If you haven’t tried it yet, it’s worth a go. I think Majestic have it as well. Interesting and full aroma and the same in the mouth. Juicy, bright and tasty.
Taboexa Albariño 2011 Rías Baixas, Spain
9.99
100% Albariño grown in Rías Baixas, Galicia. The thick-skinned berries were hand-harvested in Sept 2011, then cold-macerated at around 8°C for 8 hours before pressing. Fermented at 18°C for 3 - 4 weeks. No malolactic fermentation and 20% of the new wine was stored on fine lees in stainless tanks for around 3 months until bottling. Winemaker Jose Maria Ureta. Alc 12.5%, TA 6.9g/l, pH 3.4g/l, RS 2.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 236 branches.
Lemony aroma. Very light and fresh in the mouth. Summer wine. Ultra-fresh.
Cune Barrel Fermented 2011 Rioja, Spain
9.49
100% Viura. The grapes were hand-harvested and on arrival at the winery, cold-macerated for 6 - 8 hours before being lightly pressed. Juice was transferred to new American oak casks and fermentation took place at 16 - 20°C for 15 - 20 days. The young wine remained on the lees with regular stirring for up to 4 months. Alc 13.4%, TA 5.89g/l, pH 3.28, RS <2.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 277 branches.
Clean, green, herbal nose. Creamy vanilla oak on the palate. Lovely.