Chenin Blanc 50%, Verdelho 30%, Viognier 4%, Chardonnay 16% - tastes most like Chardonnay, although there is freshness and acidity from the Chenin.
A smudge of oak on the nose, a nice balance of lemon-fresh fruit and smoky structure on the palate. Hints of honey come with air. Lovely match for fish pie. This felt fully ready, but will hold for a while yet.
Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Sforzato di Valtellina
(2/7/2020)
The cooler vintage and high-acidity Nebbiolo work a treat with the sfursat grapes here, producing a wine that is full-bodied (15%), rich and spicy but also with refreshment - it's by no means heavy or cloying. Popular with all, and great with food.
Decanted and then drunk over the next two hours with cheese. Still a relatively firm ruby colour. Very soft, sweet and mellow, not spicy, with a dominant profile of candied red fruit - fully resolved , but definitely holding up well and didn't feel as though the bottle was on the downslope or needed drinking urgently.
Felt as though we caught this bottle just in time. Lovely burnished gold colour, but more petillant than properly sparkling. Not overtly savoury or biscuity (which is a slight shame), but definitely on the mellow side. Moreish and desirable, but not exciting.
Stored at my place for around six months, and showing signs of increased maturity. Still quite airy and fresh on the nose, and usual Bollinger depth to the palate.
For whatever reason (poor glassware?) this didn't shine like the 2007 and 2009 vintages, lacking the intensity of flavour and any complexity. Instead it just came across as a well-made, refreshing Albarino of the type you'd be reasonably happy to have ordered in a gastropub.
Bit concerned upon opening as the wine tasted thin and vinegary, but two hours after double-decanting, when it came to drink the bottle, it had put on a lot of weight and any hint of taint had dissipated. Still dark in colour, some leather and a bit of cassis, nice acidity and backbone - great with beef.
Does exactly what it says on the tin - sweet and sour, lovely bubbly fruit and flowers, a pleasure to drink and the fact it's only 5% means you can do so guilt-free.
2016 Rall White 90 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region
(2/7/2020)
Chenin Blanc 50%, Verdelho 30%, Viognier 4%, Chardonnay 16% - tastes most like Chardonnay, although there is freshness and acidity from the Chenin.
A smudge of oak on the nose, a nice balance of lemon-fresh fruit and smoky structure on the palate. Hints of honey come with air. Lovely match for fish pie. This felt fully ready, but will hold for a while yet.
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