Seasons Malvasia Istriana
2024
Aromatic, fleshy & spicy. An old-world grape doing exciting things in our Mt Benson climate.
Description
Seasons: Winter
Grape: Malvasia Istriana (Mahl-vah-zee-ah Is-tri-yana)
As the Croatian name Malvazija Istarska and Italian name Malvasia Istriana suggest, the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia’s north-west is the common homeland for this fresh, yet weighty variety. Skin contact fermentation is also common practice in this region for their white varieties, just as we associate with red wine methods here. We found Mount Benson, with its cold winters, early spring frosts, summer sun and erratic winds almost mimics this variety’s original home.
Fruit is hand-picked & crushed. 50% is then fermented naturally in an open top barrel on skins, while the other 50% is basket pressed & fermented on light solids in a 400L ceramic vessel. The ferment lasts for 7 days before blending back together.
Exotic aromas of jasmine lead to a medium bodied palate of white necatarine and brown pear. The weight of fruit coats the mouth with wonderful texture, until some firm quince phenols firm-up the spine. Some wonderful skin-contact tannins provide notes of cardamom and nutmeg, ensuring a savoury, slightly chewy finish. A perfect warming white wine to have in the depths of a cold front, and the perfect white for a red wine drinker.
Decant and serve at 8-10 degrees.
95 points – Shanteh Wale – Halliday Wine Companion – "From Wangolina’s Mount Benson vineyard. Planted in ’19 from the Chalmers clone. 50% fermented on skins and 40% in ceramic-shaped egg amphora, the remainder in older oak. This is a wine you won’t forget anytime soon; it will reshape your palate and take you down a winding road of glacé pear, apricot and rambutan flesh. You’ll stop to admire its sticky ginger-syrup likeness, white pepper and jelly-bean gummy texture. A lovely oiliness to the palate, whipped by a dry but vapour-like finish. It’s wine for contemplation and pleasure, and no doubt you’ll be smiling like a Cheshire cat after sipping."
Wine Details
- Vintage 2024
- Type White Wine
Description
Seasons: Winter
Grape: Malvasia Istriana (Mahl-vah-zee-ah Is-tri-yana)
As the Croatian name Malvazija Istarska and Italian name Malvasia Istriana suggest, the Istrian Peninsula in Croatia’s north-west is the common homeland for this fresh, yet weighty variety. Skin contact fermentation is also common practice in this region for their white varieties, just as we associate with red wine methods here. We found Mount Benson, with its cold winters, early spring frosts, summer sun and erratic winds almost mimics this variety’s original home.
Fruit is hand-picked & crushed. 50% is then fermented naturally in an open top barrel on skins, while the other 50% is basket pressed & fermented on light solids in a 400L ceramic vessel. The ferment lasts for 7 days before blending back together.
Exotic aromas of jasmine lead to a medium bodied palate of white necatarine and brown pear. The weight of fruit coats the mouth with wonderful texture, until some firm quince phenols firm-up the spine. Some wonderful skin-contact tannins provide notes of cardamom and nutmeg, ensuring a savoury, slightly chewy finish. A perfect warming white wine to have in the depths of a cold front, and the perfect white for a red wine drinker.
Decant and serve at 8-10 degrees.
95 points – Shanteh Wale – Halliday Wine Companion – "From Wangolina’s Mount Benson vineyard. Planted in ’19 from the Chalmers clone. 50% fermented on skins and 40% in ceramic-shaped egg amphora, the remainder in older oak. This is a wine you won’t forget anytime soon; it will reshape your palate and take you down a winding road of glacé pear, apricot and rambutan flesh. You’ll stop to admire its sticky ginger-syrup likeness, white pepper and jelly-bean gummy texture. A lovely oiliness to the palate, whipped by a dry but vapour-like finish. It’s wine for contemplation and pleasure, and no doubt you’ll be smiling like a Cheshire cat after sipping."
Wine Details
- Vintage 2024
- Type White Wine