Summer Sippers at Generator Waring Taylor
At this tasting, we’ll take a look at some classic summer sippers. From racy high acid Riesling and Chablis to fuller-bodied Bandol rosé, finishing on a chillable red made from old vine Barossan Grenache.
Denis Race Chablis 2022
Chablis
Chablis is found in northeast France and is famed for its Kimmeridgian soil - a limestone-based soil that contains clay and marine fossils. This soil is also found in Champagne and parts of the Loire Valley.
Denis Race Chablis 2022
Region - Chablis, Burgundy - France
Grape - 100% Chardonnay
Soil and vines - The vines which produce this wine are up to 65 years old. growing on clay-limestone kimmeridgian soils - which are full of marine fossils and thus high in calcium.
Fermentation is in thermoregulated stainless steel at cool temperatures to retain fruit flavours and aromatics.
The first fermentation (sugar being turned into alcohol) starts within a few days and can go on for up to three weeks.
A second fermentation known as malolactic fermentation follows, whereby malic acid is converted into lactic acid. This is crucial to the flavour profile of the wine which receives no oak and needs the ‘malo’ to provide weight, texture and creaminess to the austere fruit flavours.
Gerard Fiou Terroir Silex Sancerre 2023
Sancerre
The spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc in France. Sancerre is found at the end of the Loire Valley where the Lorie river begins heading south. Here, we are far inland and so the climate becomes continental with warm summers and cold winters.
Gerard Fiou Terroir Silex Sancerre 2023
At Domaine Gérard Fiou, in Saint-Satur, Florent Bourgeois makes the most of his old vines and the vein of flint that runs along the Loire river to make bright, lively Sancerre wines that respect the environment and the soil.
Region - Sancerre, Loire - France
Grapes - Sauvignon Blanc
Soil - The local terroir is famous for its flint which represents 20% of the soil. Alongside this we find “terres blanche” and “caillottes” which are white soils composed of clay, limestone and Kimmeridgian marine deposits. There is also a large proportion of siliceous clay which is high in silica (silex).
Winemaking - Minimal intervention, focusing on expressing the natural character of the grapes and terroir. Cool ferments in stainless steel and no oak.
Stefano Massone Gavi DOCG Masera 2023
Gavi
Gavi is located in Southern Piedmont in the Monferrato area where undulating hills ripple onto the Apennine mountains. Vineyards, woods and fields create a green landscape, which is home to the grape variety named Cortese. The cooling sea winds from Liguria help aid acid and aromatic retention in the grapes.
Stefano Massone Gavi DOCG Masera 2023
Region - Gavi, Piemonte - Italy
Grapes - 100% Cortese
Soil - Calcareous marl and Red clay
Winemaking - Fermentation in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures to preserve freshness. Malolactic fermentation is partial or prevented to maintain acidity. The wine is aged on fine lees in stainless steel tanks before bottling
Style - With its characteristic greenish tinge and notes of acacia flowers and green apple, this wine delivers a mineral-laden yet fruity wine with a bitter almond finish that pairs beautifully with all manner of dishes.
Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Dry Riesling North Canterbury 2023
Waipara North Canterbury
North Canterbury comprises four distinct sub-regions. An easy 45-minute drive north of Christchurch will land you at the doorstep of the Waipara Valley including Omihi and the Glasnevin Gravels. Fifteen minutes further inland you will find Waikari. Picturesque Vineyards also lie on the plains close to Christchurch city and further east on the extinct volcanic that is Banks Peninsula.
Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Dry Riesling North Canterbury 2023
The Donaldson Family has been seriously involved in viticulture and winemaking for over 45 years. Founder Ivan Donaldson planted the first Canterbury vineyard in 1976 and went on to establish Pegasus Bay in 1986 with his wife Christine. It is a true family business, with all four of their sons involved.
Region - Waipara Valley, North Canterbury - NZ
Grape / soils - 100% Riesling. The vines are over 30 years old, with a large proportion planted on their own roots. They are located on the “Glasnevin Gravels” where greywacke stones, silt and loam have been washed down from the mountains over the millennia. The soil is of low fertility, resulting in naturally reduced vigour.
Winemaking - After an extended hang time, the bunches were hand-selected with a portion of botrytis and a ripeness of approximately 25.5 Brix. The free-run juice was then fermented slowly at cool temperatures to help the wine retain its vibrant fruit characters and varietal purity. At all stages, the wine was handled very carefully to help retain a little of its natural carbon dioxide. This has resulted in a small amount of spritzig, which adds extra liveliness to the wine and accentuates its freshness.
Bleu Rivage Bandol Rose 2022
Make it stand out
Mourvedre and Grenache form the main component of Bandol red (and rosé) wines. Grenache is an earlier-ripening variety and risks over-ripeness in the intense climate here, bringing too much potential alcohol to the wines. This has turned out to be less of an inconvenience than it might seem; the local vignerons plant Grenache on the cooler, north-facing slopes and Mourvèdre on the warmer, south-facing slopes.
A note on rosé - There are three major ways to produce rosé - direct pressing, saignée and blending. Saignee involves removing some of the juice from a vat of red wine grapes during the first few hours of fermentation (when skin contact has been minimal and the juice is only partially coloured and the flavours minimally extracted).
Bleu Rivage Bandol Rose 2022
Region - Bandol, Provence - France
Grape - Mourvèdre - 50%, Grenache 25%, Cinsault - 25%
Soils - The vineyard rests upon clay-limestone and marly soil
Winemaking - Direct pressing of grapes is practiced with the grape varieties being vinified separately. Alcoholic fermentation is carried out at low temperature in order to preserve fruity aromas and colour.
Chaffey Bros Not Your Grandma's Chillable Red 2022
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley, located in South Australia, is one of the world's most famous wine regions, particularly known for its rich, full-bodied Shiraz. It has a deep winemaking history, dating back to the 19th century, and is home to some of Australia's most prestigious wineries.
Location: About 60 km (37 miles) northeast of Adelaide, South Australia.
Climate: Mediterranean (warm days, cool nights).
Main Grape Varieties: Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro (Mourvèdre), Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling (in nearby Eden Valley).
Soil Types: A mix of sandy loam, red clay known as terra rosa and limestone.
Chaffey Bros Not Your Grandma's Chillable Red 2022
Region - Barossa Valley, Autralia
Grapes - Grenache and Mourvèdre
Winemaking - Made from juicy, handpicked old vine Barossa Grenache and Mourvèdre. Hand-crafted with minimal intervention using cool fermentation with whole bunches
