Category Archives: White Wine – Europe

Case D’ Alto, Eclissi Fiano di Avellino, DOCG, Campania, Italy

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Case D’ Alto is an organic vineyard in Campania, Italy and makes DOCG wine. This guarantee level of quality is not always what its meant to be.

Its made with the Fiano grape and has decent straw coloured with floral notes on the nose and a fresh clean taste, slight minerality on the taste with flavours of pineapple, melon and grapefruit.

Its a decent wine but the silver medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards I think is a little generous.

Case D' Alto, Eclissi Fiano di Avellino, DOCG, Campania, Italy

Case D’ Alto, Eclissi Fiano di Avellino, DOCG, Campania, Italy

Pazo de San Mauro, 2018, Albarino, Galicia, Spain

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A silver medal winner at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 this Albarino from Pazo de San Mauro, Galicia in Spain is a great example of the grape and region.

You get apple and pear aromas with lemon, pineapple and hints of orange on the taste with a zesty, concentrated finish. Oh at £10 a bottle its very good value for money, naff said.

Pazo San Mauro, 2018 Albariño, Galicia, Spain

Pazo de San Mauro 2018 Albariño, Galicia, Spain

 

 

Morlanda, Priorat, Blanco 2017, Spain

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Priorat is usually known for red wine so to find this white wine “blanco” from Morlanda was a treat. Made with White Garnacha its high in acidity, a pale yellow colour with faint aromas and flavours of grass, green apple and an underlying creaminess.

That’s the issue I have with the wine, its low in flavours and at £18 a bottle its very pricey. Eur9 in europe is a bit easy to swallow but there’s better wines out there even at that price.

Morlanda, Priorat, Blanco 2017, Spain

Morlanda, Priorat, Blanco 2017, Spain

 

 

Habsiger, Klevener de Heiligenstein, Alsace, France

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Made with the Klevener, of which there is only 4.5 ha of grapes in the region, this is not you typical wine from Alsace but Habsiger have done a good job. Its a mellow, soft wine, aromas of melon and Lychee with a taste of lemon poking through. Its not yu usual cheap, crisp, highly acidic, white wine.

Pesonnally I would have this on its own so the subtle flavours can be tasted. At Eur7 or 8 a bottle its an interesting wine that’s well worth trying.

Habsiger, Klevener de Heiligenstein, Alsace, France

Habsiger, Klevener de Heiligenstein, Alsace, France

Domaine Zinck, Terroir Pinot Gris 2011, Alsace, France

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Alsace make some amazing wines and this Pinot Gris from Domaine Zinck is a very good example, Zinck produce a fantastic range of wines by the way. Even though this is 9 years old its pretty good on all levels, reasonabe critus fruit aromas and a wonderfall deep yellow colour, very seductive.

This is a bold wine, not quite full bodied but rich in flavour with ripe flavours of pineapple, lemon and minerality. In reality it should have been drunk within 5 years but its still very drinkerable and at wat under £10 a bargin.

Domaine Zinck, Terroir Pinot Gris 2011, Alsace, France

Domaine Zinck, Terroir Pinot Gris 2011, Alsace, France

 

Weingut Bernhard Ott, Fass 4, Gruner Veltliner 2016, Austria

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Gruner Veltliner is an under drunk wine. This wine from Weingut Bernhard Ott has typical characteristics of apple, grass and white peach with a clean fresh smell and taste. There’s a mineral overtone and it has some wonderful green apple acidity. It has a beautiful green tinge to the colour.

Great one its own or with, fish and asian foods, such as sweet and sour chicken. At about £20 its not cheap but thats in part Austrian wine for you. A worthy bronze medal winner at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Weingut Bernhard Ott, Fass 4, Gruner Veltliner 2016, Austria

Weingut Bernhard Ott, Fass 4, Gruner Veltliner 2016, Austria

 

Domaines Vinsmoselle, Grand Premier Cru, Riesling 2011, Luxembourg

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Luxembourg is not the place you may think of for quality wine but this Grand Premier Cru Riesling from Domaines Vinsmoselle shows what can be done.

At 9 years old there’s lots of green apple and petroleum notes on the nose. There’s freshness and balance on the taste with grass, lemon and lime flavours and that petroleum notes that linger.

Its quite gorgeous, if you like older Riesling. Fortunately I do but you may wish to drink this earlier rather than later.

At £15 a bottle is bang on the money for value, quality isn’t cheap but you don’t need to pay a fortune for it either.

Domaines Vinsmoselle, Grand Premier Cru, Riesling 2011, Luxembourg

Domaines Vinsmoselle, Grand Premier Cru, Riesling 2011, Luxembourg

Cuatro Rayas, Cantarranas Verdejo 2018, Spain

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From central Spain this is a light, dry white. With flavours of apple and citrus, esp lemon and lime its quite refreshing. Simple in many ways but that’s OK because you will want to drink this as a summer quencher. Best with chicken or pork dishes if you have having this with food, personally I would drink it on its own.

This 2018 vintage got a bonze at the Decanter World Wine Awards but only got a  Commended at the International Wine Challenge, which may be a little stingy, but as a summer BBQ wine at £6 a bottle you won’t really care.
Cuatro Rayas, Cantarranas Verdejo 2018, Spain

Cuatro Rayas, Cantarranas Verdejo 2018, Spain

Signé Bourgogne Montagny, Burgundy, France

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Burgundy Cru’s are excellent. You can also get excellent lower tier wines.

This little number has many excellent points, its light with lemon and minerality on the nose, it has subtle flavours of apple, vanilla, honey, citrus, its crisp, acidic and refreshing. It went very nicely with smoked salmon and cream cheese. At under £10 a bottle its very good value.

Signé Bourgogne Montagny, Burgundy, France

Signé Bourgogne Montagny, Burgundy, France

Chateau Moncontour, Vouvray, France

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Made from the usual grape of Vouvray and the Loire, Chenin Blanc, it has ripe citrus aromas, lemon, pineapple with a note of flora in there. Its an off dry, demi sec, and its soft, rounded flavours make this very enjoyable. Personally I would have this with food, chicken or fish. At about £10 a bottle its a reasonable price.

Chateau Moncontour, Vouvray, France

Chateau Moncontour, Vouvray, France