Grand Cru (Perth) Tasting Group – Superfreak Whites

[Waiters Friend]

G’day

Despite the grandiose title, the aim was to explore some unusual white wines. Contributors were asked to tell a story as to why their selection was freaky or unusual. I didn’t record the stories, just the tasting notes.

The usual caveats – wine were served blind, mostly from oldest to youngest, and the notes are a compilation of the group’s comments. Nine wines in total:

Rockford White Frontignac 2022 (Barossa Valley, S.A.): Around 8.5% alcohol. Very pale, almost watery in colour. Rosewater, musk, lychee and honeysuckle on a delicate nose. There’s a lot of fruit sweetness on the palate, with light stone fruits (white peach, nectarine). The fruit sweetness and residual sugar are offset by quite high acid, and the combination leads to a dry finish. Would suit some Asian foods.

Mr Barval Viognier Marsanne 2022 (Margaret River, W.A.). A 72%/28% blend. Medium yellow in colour. Lots of red apple, salinity, candy floss and green pineapple on the nose. Slight spritz on the palate, with pear, and apple cider. There’s reasonably high acidity, and a medium to long finish, with a finish like flat soda water. Highly regarded by the group.

La Spinetta Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Derthona 2021 (Piemonte, Italy): Pale yellow in colour. The nose is complex, and shows buttermilk, pear, honey and flinty characters. The palate is equally complex, with apricot, honey, lemon, tinned pineapple and some lees texture offset by cleansing acid. Very slightly astringent on the finish, and needs food. Highly regarded by the group.

Faber Vineyard CBP 2021 (Swan Valley, W.A.). CBP stands for Chenin Blanc Pressings (the free run goes to their standard CB), and this sees time on lees in old oak. This was the first vintage of this wine, and it’s deep yellow in colour (as compared to the very pale standard CB). The nose shows honeysuckle, toast, lemon and red apple, while the palate continues with the lemon and apple, and a touch of apricot. Like the previous wine, there’s lees texture offset by cleansing acid.

Monte Schiavo Verdiccio Dei Castelli Di Jesi 2021 (Marche, Italy): Straw colour. This was probably the cheapest wine of the tasting, which was a surprise when it was unmasked. Lemon pith, florals and lanolin on the nose. – more lanolin on the palate. A touch of almond or marzipan and again we suspect some lees work or skin contact during fermentation to provide the palate texture – again, offset by cleansing acid. We sensed a theme developing here …..

Vino Volta Methode Ancestrale Chenin Blanc 2021 (Swan Valley, W.A.). A sparkling wine, cloudy and yellow/grey in colour. The nose reminded one taster of hipster beer; another a yellow Danish and a third ‘cheesy’. All of these indicated the yeasty characters that reminded me of cider. There’s more cheese on the palate alongside juicy yellow apples. Low acid and light bodied.

Villa Di Barone Carricante 2020 (Siciliy, Italy): Yellow in colour. There’s preserved lemon, and a touch of white pepper on the nose. The white pepper is amplified on the palate, with tangy lemon and salinity. It’s lightly flavoured only, with prominent acid, and the finish is short with more of that soda water. Well regarded by the group (despite the short finish).

Lula Vigneron Sous Se Cerisier Chardonnay 2018 (Jura, France): Deep yellow colour. The nose is not especially fruity, rather there’s beeswax, honey, and a sense of flor yeast. The palate is similar, with wax, lanolin, burnt honeycomb, and roasted banana (i.e. no sugar flavour in the banana).

Wills Domain Semillon 2013 (Margaret River, W.A.). Pale yellow, belying its age. It’s grassy and herbaceous (A Margaret River trait for semillon and SB), but also reminiscent of a Hunter semillon – honey, toast and a hint of kero. There’s lanolin on the palate, with lime and unripe nectarine. Good palate weight and length, and the wine is well regarded by the group.

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Wine of the night La Spinetta Colli Tortonesi Timorasso Derthona 2021, but there were a couple of close contenders. Thanks to all who attended this informative and unusual tasting.

Cheers
Allan

[phillisc]

Thanks Allan, have purchased the last few vintages of Rockford Fronti. Lovely lunch time wine or as an aperitif.
Cheers Craig

[Ian S]

Great to see a Timorasso get the recognition as WOTN. Amazing that this grape was so close to extinction, as it can be so good. I've not tried the La Spinetta version, but would happily try it.