4 minute read
Highly commended wines
France white wines (continued)
Juliénas Chaintré Mâcon Chaintré Cuvée Quatre, Mâconnais, Burgundy 2022 (£17, Vindependents): Great white Burgundy at a very attractive price.
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Helfrich Family Château Saint-Robert Organic, Graves, Bordeaux 2020 (£18.49, GCF Exclusive): Fragrant and aromatic with a long finish. Good food wine.
Germany white wines
Selbach-Oster Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2020 (£17.49, Bancroft): Stone-cold classic Mosel Riesling, loads of complexity and oh so lovely! Definitely stockable.
Weingut Hanewald-Schwerdt Herrenmorgen Riesling, Leistadt, Pfalz 2020 (£20, Vindependents): Racy with real presence – nice verve and Riesling tanginess.
Weingut Hanewald-Schwerdt Weissburgunder, Pfalz 2021 (£15, Vindependents): Citrus and mineral, creamy mouth feel. White pepper finish. Good value.
Dreissigacker Vintages Riesling, Bechtheim, Rheinhessen NV (£28.99, Liberty Wines): Fresh, slight mineral note, sweet fruits, stone fruit, nectarine.
Greece white wines
Aoton Savvatiano, Attica, Central Greece 2019 (£19, Southern Wine Roads): A great alternative for lovers of Viognier and southern French whites.
Methymnaeos Orange, PGI Lesvos 2021 (£25, Southern Wine Roads): Well-executed skin contact; light structure; refreshing, dry, citrus, pepper.
Diamantakis Winery Petali Assyrtiko, Crete 2022 (£16, Vindependents): Complex nose, with citrus, herbs and wet cement. Really hits the Assyrtiko spot.
Idaia Winery Dafnes Vidiano, PGI Vidiano 2021 (£18.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Unusual and delicious: would slot right into any Greek range.
Ktima Gerovassiliou Malagousia Epanomi, Epanomi, Macedonia 2022 (£23.49, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Mouthfilling loveliness; exotic flavours.
Diamantakis Winery Diamantopetra White, Crete 2022 (£19.50, Vindependents): A real sense of place –adventurous customers would love this.
Ktima Biblia Chora Sauvignon Blanc Assyrtiko Estate White, Pangeon, Macedonia 2022 (£22.49, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Lean, dry, nicely tart – zing!
Dourakis Lichnos Vidiano, Crete 2021 (£24, Southern Wine Roads): Lovely fragrance: melon, apricot, dried herbs. Palate full of texture.
Gaia Wines Moschofilero Wild Ferment Moschofilero by Gaia, Peloponnese 2022 (£23.25, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Very perfumed, tropical, complex.
Italy white wines
Castello di Buttrio Ribolla Gialla, Friuli Colli Orientali 2020 (£24.25, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Yummy mouthwatering fruit gum; citrus and minerals.
Duca di Saragnano Toscana Bianco Sangiovese, Tuscany 2021 (£10.99, Cachet Wine): Soft and balanced. Quite exceptional at the price.
Mandrarossa Serapias Passito di Pantelleria, Pantelleria, Sicily 2020 (£43.99, Liberty Wines): Superb concentration of flavour – great finish.
Ippolito 1845 Pecorello, Calabria 2021 (£18.25, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Suprisingly full, lovely texture. Nectarine, apricot and well balanced acidity.
Saraja Vermentino di Gallura Kintari, Sardinia 2020 (£18.99, Boutinot): Jolly, beautifully fresh, tangerine and stone fruit – could be extremely popular.
Campo alle Comete Vermentino Albablu, Tuscany 2021 (£20.75, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): It’s all there from the very first sip: zesty and refreshing.
Alpha Zeta S Soave, Soave, Veneto 2022 (£10.99, Liberty Wines): Shows how Soave is one of the best value regions around: lovely, graceful and refreshing.
CasalFarneto Verdicchio Collequieto, Verdicchio Dei Castelli Di Jesi Doc Classico 2022 (£11.50, Vindependents): Crisp, clean, lipsmacking value.
Tasca Capofaro Malvasia di Salina, Sicily, Italy 2020 (£49, Berkmann Wine Cellars): Rich raisins and candied fruit; honey. Perfect with the right dessert.
Masi Fresco di Masi Bianco, Veneto 2021 (£17, Berkmann Wine Cellars): Floral tones, a little fennel, orchard fruit, and citrus; soft acidity. Well made.
Tenuta Aquilaia Vermentino, Maremma, Tuscany 2022 (£15.49, Boutinot): Breezy and fresh with buckets of lemon and lime zest and juice. Balanced.
Colomba Bianca Carricante Lavi, Terre Siciliane, Sicily 2021 (£13.99 Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Rieslingesque zip and steel; citrus, orange blossom.
Colomba Bianca Zibibbo Vitese 2022, Terre Siciliane, Sicily 2022 (£11.99 Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Expressive; floral, tropical; chalky minerality; crisp.
Rinomata Archivo, Abruzzo 2021 (£10.49, Lanchester Wines): Well put-together and versatile; the very definition of a fridge-door white.
Mario Giribaldi Gavi I Risi, Piedmont 2021 (£17.99, Cachet Wines): Orange blossom and red apple; well balanced, fluent acidity and a clean finish.
Curatolo Arini Inzolia, Chirchiaro, Sicily 2022 (£14.99, Liberty Wines): A tropical nose and very floral with orange blossom, apricot and peach.
Feudi di San Gregorio Greco di Tufo Cutizzi, Campania 2021 (£23.25, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Lime, stone, sweet mint. Lean, fresh palate; mineral.
Cantina Lavis Maso Franch Bianco Trentino, Trentino 2017 (£24.99, Cachet Wines): Lovely, gentle, floral; citrus. Refined, pretty and great purity of expression.
Pellegrino Isesi Zibibbo Pantelleria, Pantelleria, Sicily 2020 (£20.99, Fells): Floral; intensely perfumed; green apple, apricot, blood orange, fennel. Stylish.
Mandrarossa Bertolino Soprano Grillo, Menfi, Sicily 2019 (£30.99, Liberty Wines): Very fine, distinctive, Grillo: hawthorn blossom, lime, sherbet.
Michele Chiarlo Gavi del Comune di Gavi Rovereto, Piedmont 2021 (£22.75, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Orange peel, citrus and sweet spice. Lemon oil.
CasalFarneto Crisio, Castelli Di Jesi Verdicchio Riserva DOCG Classico 2019 (£23, Vindependents): Acacia flowers, good consistency, very delicious.
Jermann Afix Riesling, Venezia-Giulia 2020 (£34, Berkmann Wine Cellars): Lime; minerals. Dry zesty finish. Classic Riesling with lots of life and energy.
Fontanassa C’Adua Gavi, Gavi DOCG 2021 (£18.99, Top Selection): Fruit-forward, clean, fresh and well balanced style of Gavi. Great price point.
Poderi Parpinello Vermentino Sessantaquattro, Sardinia 2021 (£19.49, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Lime cordial, pink grapefruit; appealing saline edge.
Produttori Di Manduria Zin Fiano, Puglia IGT 2021 (£14.99, Alliance Wine): Honeyed stone fruit aromas leading to white peach; balanced and long.
Sorrentino Vigna Lapillo Lacryma Christi Bianco, Boscotrecase, Campania 2019 (£25.99, Liberty Wines): Serious, intriguing, simply wonderful Italian white.
Marchesi di Grésy Langhe Chardonnay, Langhe, Piedmont 2020 (£36.99, Boutinot): Top flight Chardonnay – roll over Burgundy!
Tasca Leone, Sicily 2021 (£24.50, Berkmann Wine Cellars): Lemon curd and cream; very pure. A classy effort, the palate is well-balanced and nicely textured.
Sartarelli Classico, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Marches 2021 (£13.87, Jascots Wine): Lovely depth and feel; almond nuttiness with ripe apple and citrus.
Produttori di Manduria Alice Verdeca, Puglia 2022 (£14.99, Alliance Wine): Peach, citrus, subtle Mediterranean herbs. Gently floral. Summer sipper.
Pian Oro Collezione Famiglia Barbanera, Tuscany 2021 (£12.49, Cachet Wine): Pear, apple, lovely balance and finish. One for the veranda!
San Marzano Vermentino Timo, Salento, Puglia 2022 (£13.25 Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Lime, grapefruit, peach, pineapple. A lot of fun, full of fruity flavour.
Moldova white wines
Chateau Purcari Alb de Purcari , Stefan Voda 2019 (£22.99, Transylvania Wine): Fascinating white blend, enjoyably drinkable and really well balanced.
Chateau Purcari Vicoria, Stefan Voda 2022 (£14.99, Transylvania Wine): Pronounced nose: lychee, herbal, honey. Great aperitif or spicy food wine.
New Zealand white wines
Joval Catalina Sounds Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2022 (£15.99, Boutinot): Classic Marlborough Sauvignon – goes very well just above entry-level.
Te Merio Sauvignon Blanc, Nelson 2022 (£11.99, Boutinot): Does what it says on the tin, but with style and at an excellent price; a people pleaser!
