White Wine

After the spring frost affected 2021 (see grapes blended with Roussanne, Grenache and Syrah to produce ‘Le Duc’), Simon didn’t only lose a large percentage of fruit that year, he lost approximately 20% of the Viognier vines! Just when you thought this man's luck couldn’t get any worse! But the L’Invite 2022 displays more of the richer and classic Viognier characters than is usual from this extraordinarily high and stunning terroir of schist with large pebbles of basalt mixed in. These characters marry well with the awesome minerality this sites constantly shows. An absolute stunner.

Medium-dry style with lots of ripe peach, apple and pear flavours. The luscious palate is weighty but balanced by good freshness. Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com "Easy, open Chenin, golden apples and baked pears, a smidge of fudge and sage leaf dipped in warm honey, but also cool lemon peel and even a nip of stone dust. Not bad for the price but prêt-à-porter, not crafted."

Dry, clean, and crisp with citrus notes, yellow plum, light green apple, & a hint of white pepper. Excellent as a starter/aperitif or pair with savoury starters, pasta & seafood dishes including tapas, antipasti, shrimp salad & sushi! The clever little Hungarian cricket discerns which vine tendrils it will eat and always avoids the Gruner Veltliner vine.

An unusual, but terrific, blend showing off Alsace's grape varieties in a supergroup line up. The spiciness of Gewurz; the grapiness of Muscat; the body of Pinot Gris; the backbone of Riesling; and the refreshing character of Sylvaner. The resulting wine is fresh and characterful. Aroma and flavours of lemon, tropical fruit and white peaches, floral notes and petroleum. Additional flavours on the palate of pineapple and ground white pepper. Dry medium plus bodied wine. Good length. A super complex wine and fabulous value. Vegan, Biodynamic agriculture

"2020 was a very good year for whites, and they harvested very early. The 2020 Ultreia Godello shows restraint and very low pH (3.2!) with high acidity (6.6 to 6.8). None of the whites go through malolactic, and this is the freshest vintage of this wine so far. This is now made with mostly own grapes from Cacabelos and Ponferrada (in 2022 they will own around 80% of the vineyards used for this wine), matured in a mixture of barriques, oak foudres and some concrete. It's super tasty, mineral and finishes dry. There are some 30,000 bottles of this wine. Drink 2022-2026." 93/100 Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate, January 2022 "The enigma that is Raúl Pérez continues to enthral wine lovers the world-over with his own-brand of inspiring, light touch winemaking. Having almost single-handedly put Bierzo on the map, Raúl’s guru-like status (and appearance!) has inspired a whole new generation of dynamic winemakers across the entirety of Spain." "As new vineyards come in to production the main white of the project is now produced from majority estate fruit, mostly from the eastern part of the Bierzo zone, on schist and clay soils, from vines averaging 30-35 years old. Harvest here takes place a full 20 days later than in Valtuille, yielding grapes with high natural acidity and only 11-12% potential alcohol, which provides excellent blending material. 25% is sourced from Cacabelos on deeper clay-stony soils, and the final 25% from Valtuille where the vineyards have a higher percentage of sand in the soils. All plots are fermented in oak tank and assembled just before bottling. Aging takes place in barrels of various sizes and ages. The 2020 has a really good freshness and bright, zingy personality – moreish but with plenty going on, it is always on the youthful citrus, white fruit and flowers."

Vermentino di Maremma from Tenuta di Belguardo estate is a medium bodied dry wine, made by 100% of Vermentino white grape. The caracteristic of this wine is its minerality, which is massive thanks to the sea breeze that flows between the bunches in the vineyards , and the limestone soil where the vines grow. Since 1997 Tenuta di Belguardo is owned by Mazzei family, historacally devoted to winemaking. Maremma is a particular zone where probably Vermentino gives its best in Tuscany and the result in this case is a limpid white wine with vanilla and yellow peach notes , all kept fresh with a seam of textured minerality.

Bright straw yellow with greenish reflections, “Saragat” Vermentino has fragrant aromas of rosemary, elderberry, juicy white stone fruit, and lychee. The palate is elegant and savoury, with great structure and balance. The intensity of flavour carries through onto the long finish.

A dry, powerful, harmonious Riesling from the Moselle. Harvested from the best plots and vines over 70 years old, growing on blue slate. Laser-edged acidity against a silky, supple palate of juicy white peach and mango flavours.

Bright, intense and dry Riesling with rich peach, ripe citrus fruit with a mouth-watering acidity and a persistent lengthy finish. Delicious, organic wine from a great family producer. The Schätzel family has been producing wine since 1350, making them the oldest winemaking family in the Rheinhessen. The red slate of the vineyards around Nierstein, where the estate is based, spans six hectares, of which the majority is Riesling. In 2008, when Kai Schätzel took over his family’s estate, he transformed it to organic and biodynamic farming and reintroduced traditional winemaking methods. He has developed a reputation for his unique style which involves less alcohol, less exuberant fruit, more minerality and a more cutting and distinctive flavour profile.

A classic Spanish white -100% Verdejo Temperature controlled fermentation preserves the fresh lemon and melon fruit; fruity but fresh great value. Great with seafood, and a lovely summer drinker.

El Porvenir's march into the future continues with the 'Pequenas Fermentaciones' range of small, experimental wines. This being a tight and floral Torrentes and Moscatel blend.

2-vineyard. Rabigato, Viosinho, Arinto. 10% barrel ferment. Classic Douro white - such freshness but such richness with cool white peach fruit and a grapefruit lift.

Pale yellow with green hues. Aromas of citrus fruits, clementine, pineapple and ginger which follow to the palate. Lime, yuzu zest and white flowers. This wine is lively, medium-bodied with an attractive underlying mineral finish. The grapes come from the locality of Bollenberg and Grands Crus Saering and Kessler, and the young vineyards of Kitterlé. Now run by the 6th and 7th generations, Domaines Schlumberger was founded in 1810 by Nicolas Schlumberger, who established vineyards on the renowned slopes above the town of Guebwiller. These vineyard sites have a history of viticulture, having been planted since 207AD. Through successive generations the holding has grown to be one of France’s largest and finest domaines.

Pinot Blanc from this area of France is sometimes a bit overlooked but, as demonstrated here, in the hands of a good estate such as Domaines Schlumberger they bear comparison with some of the more illustrious Alsatian varieties. The fruit for this wine is mainly from their Saering and Spiegel Grand Cru vineyards with a little more coming from other sites. The wine is fermented in stainless steel where it remains on its lees for a further seven months prior to bottling. It has a pale golden colour which hints at the citrus and peachy notes to come. Nicely crisp but with good weight it has an excellent balance of acidity and body leading to a pleasantly dry finish.

A beautifully, light, vibrant white to be appreciated for its zesty, citrus and green apple character and refreshing quality.

The nose is fresh and mineral, delicate notes of pear and white flowers. The palate is rich with green apple flavours and beautiful texture.

An ancient former monastic wine estate on the famous Maximin Grünhaus hill in the Ruwer, where wine has been made for 2000 years or so. Three of the region’s top vineyards, for which von Schubert are world-famous, sit on this hill: Herrenberg; Bruderberg; Abstberg. Von Schubert's wines are taut, mineral, deft and delightful - perfect classics of their style.

A classic Gavi. Straw yellow colour with greenish reflection, aromas of citrus, grapefruit, cut grass, good freshness, persistent and mineral taste with a long lasting finish. "Pronounced flavour intensity, with a creamy, buttery element and some sweet spices, crunchy citrus and stone fruit." Savvas Symeonidis, Goodman Restaurant Mayfair.

Francois Xavier AKA 'FX' worked with Tom Lubbe at Domaine Matassa for five years. He spent a further year with Domaine Danjou-Banessy. After such time this local lad set up in Espira to make his own wholly exciting wines which we are introducing the UK for the first time. The deepest, and juiciest of FX’s white wines. This cuvee comes from an absolutely beautiful schist vineyard planted 80 years ago. Like many ancient Roussillon vineyards it is co-planted with Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir and Macabeu. Back in the day farmers would plant in such a way to hedge their bets that they would at least have some grapes at harvest time. The grapes were picked by hand then crushed, pressed and fermentation took place in cuve. It was then aged in cuve for 8 months. 2g/hl sulphites added prior to bottling.

A refreshing wine, intense aromas of ripe stone fruits, aromatic herbs and freshly cut grass. Great Sauvignon Blanc alternative.

Jean Paul Brun is known throughout Beaujolais as the original ‘farmer’ of the region. He has always practiced organically though doesn’t bother himself with the bureaucracy of the paperwork. The ‘terres dorees’ on which he grows his vines is a truly beautiful part of the region, and literally translates to the ‘golden lands’. This golden beauty is fully translated into his Beaujolais blanc. Dry and elegant, with lovely intense ripe fruit with citrus flavours. Pure, juicy and succulent. Real class. 100% unoaked Chardonnay from top sites in the Maconnais. Beaujolais like you've never tried before!

Beautiful fruity wine from Sicily, great value for money with notes of grapefruits and citrus like lemon and pear. Bright and pleasing acidity. Notes of mineral enhance the refreshing taste. Nice pairing with fish and drink chill dishes.

The Lacroix-Martillac is a pale-yellow colour with green highlights. An intense and fresh nose, on typical aromas of Sauvignon: blackcurrant buds, citrus and white peach. The mouth is juicy, fresh and pleasing. A long finish, marked by its freshness.