Italy

Terredora Greco di Tufo 2011 Terre degli Angeli, Campania, Italy 13.99
100% Greco from the estate’s vineyards in Montefusco. Terredora (led by Walter and Lucio Mastroberardino) is Campania’s largest private vineyard owner and has championed native Campanian varieties such as Greco and Aglianico since 1978. The soil here is calcareous and the vines are guyot-pruned. The grapes were hand-harvested in the first 2 weeks of October and cool-fermented in stainless steel tanks after 24 hours’ skin contact. No malo. Winemaker Lucio Mastroberardino. Alc 13%, TA 6.70g/l, pH 3.27, RS 2.0g/l.
IWC Gold and IWSC Bronze Medal Winner. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 237 branches.

Deep golden colour. Smells of cardboard. Vegetal, herbal taste. Perhaps good with herby starters?


Spain

Waitrose Aromatic and Citrus Spanish White NV Spain 4.99
60% Airèn with 40% Verdejo, made for Waitrose by Vinos y Bodegas Gallegas, based in Ourense, Galicia. Grapes were sourced from selected vineyards in Rueda and La Mancha, hand-harvested in late-Sept into 15kg trays. Fruit was destemmed and then gently crushed in a bladder press. Fermented in stainless steel tanks at 18°C with selected yeast for 2 weeks. Winemaker Rubén Suárez Pérez. Alc 12.0%, TA 6.2g/l, pH 3.36, RS 2.8g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 273 branches.

I’m not sure calling a wine “aromatic” is a good idea if it’s made from airen. Not much on the nose at all. Full flavoured and quite pleasant but it isn’t going to appeal to the people who pick it up wanting Aromatic and Citrus wine.

Valdesil Sobre Lías Godello 2011 Vilamartín de Valdeorras, Valdeorras, Spain 15.99
100% Godello from 30 year-old vines grown on the slate slopes of Vilamartín de Valdeorras at altitude of 500m. The grapes were handharvested 6th - 18th Sept in to 20kg crates. A short skin contact maceration was followed by static settling of the juice and fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged on fine lees for 4 months in stainless steel vats. No malolactic to preserve fresh acidity. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.01%, TA 6.0g/l, pH 2.97, RS 3.9g/l. IWC Bronze Medal Winner. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 43 branches.

Typical nose. Full flavoured, textured and with sufficient herbal fruit to make it quite interesting.

_________________
mel