Mixed Case – Wacky Whites

Tasting Notes

Depending on your personal white wine consumption patterns, this may or may not be a wacky mix of wines. We typically present our mixed case offers along a theme that ties into a particular story. This week’s mixed case offering is a little less homogenous than most; but nonetheless intriguing!

What IS common about these wines is that they are very good examples – benchmarks if you will – for the varietals/blends and regions from which they originate. Each wine illustrates well the fruit and terroir without intervention of oak treatments. They are all clean, crisp, vibrant wines that finish dry and prepare the palate well for food.

On offer today is a 12 bottle case with 3 bottles of each of the 4 wines:

Beaumont Chenin Blanc 2020 (Walker Bay, South Africa) :
100% Chenin Blanc: Beaumont is located in Walker Bay on the south coast of the Western Cape, not far from Capetown. The region is officially a cool climate growing zone, as the waters off the coast are derived from Antarctic currents. These cool waters temper what would otherwise be a very hot climate. Cool evenings help retention of acids which ultimately lead to refreshing, balanced wines.

The Beaumont estate itself is a small, family owned farm. In addition to vines, the farm also grows pears, almonds and olives surrounded by fynbos and abundant birdlife.

This vintage is a beautiful expression of the grape capturing the full flavour and potential that their terroir has to offer. It is a great example of cooler climate Chenin Blanc fermented in concrete and stainless steel tanks. Dry, fresh and delicious!

Green melon, apple, and delicate apricot blossom aromas on the nose. The palate has fresh green apple, pineapple flavours with a hint of wood spice. Crisp, yet well balanced, acidity keeps the wine fresh with great length.

Casale Marchese Frascati Superiore 2019 (Lazio, Italy) :
35% Malvasia, 25% Trebianno, 20% Bellone, 20% Bombino: When in Rome; do as the Romans do! As popular and well known as is Rome, it’s surprising to find the wine region within which Rome is located, Lazio, is not well known. The most significant wine of Lazio is Frascati – a blended white consumed in quantity in Rome.

The Casale Marchese estate makes Frascati as it should be made. They use the best clones of Malvasia and only the best 15 – 20% of their grapes are sold under their label. The remainder is sold to the local co-operative. The estate practices sustainable farming, coupled with high density, short-pruned planting, yielding limited grapes per vine. The result is optimal fruit concentration.

An immediate fresh fragrance of tropical fruit with floral and herbal nuances. Melon, almond, acacia flowers, apples and citrus with a hint of aromatic mint come to mind. Medium-bodied with a good structure and an intense taste that confirms the nose, it lingers in a soft and elegant finish, fruity yet aromatic and minty clean.

Domaine Lapalus Macon Milly Lamartine White 2019 (Burgundy, France) :
100% Chardonnay: Domaine Lapalus is a family winery which owns 17 hectares of vines in southern Burgundy in the village of Pierreclos. Here this third-generation winemaker makes wines in the purest Burgundy tradition. These wines from the Macon area are tremendous values.

This wine originates from southern Burgundy. The Maconnais is warmer, with less rain and more sun hours throughout the year. Maconnais appellations, from lesser to better, are Macon, Macon Villages and Macon with name Village. Lapalus wine is from the better designation – Macon Milly Lamartine.

Made from Chardonnay grown on limestone soil. Good complexity, lemon and fresh pineapple aromas. Spice notes. On the palate there are white floral notes. Vibrant acidity. Good minerality. A fine and precise wine. Very pleasant from now on. Very good with fish and seafood.

Zahel Gruner Veltliner Goldberg 2020 (Vienna, Austria):
100% Gruner Veltliner: Viticulture in Vienna is fairly unique. Few vines are grown for commercial purposes in cities around the world, yet in Vienna we have a growing zone classified as its own viticultural appellation, counting several hundred wine estates. You can take a streetcar from downtown Vienna and get dropped off at the Zahel location which functions as an active winery, wineshop and Heurigin (a Viennese sausage and wine bar).

The grapes for this single vineyard (Goldberg) Gruner Veltliner are grown on the Laaerberg hill in Vienna’s southeastern wine region. The area is ideal given the mild climate which helps achieve optimal ripeness, balanced by the natural fresh acidity of the grape. Zesty, citrusy fruit, ripe apples and green pepper come together in a refreshing, balanced wine. Dry, with great acidity and an ample mouth feel, finishing clean and lively.