New Year, New Wines

Bright & Lush

The Altenburger family has farmed land in and around Jois since the 16th century. Their vineyards are only half an hour from Vienna, but seemingly in another cosmos altogether.

Grown on calcareous loam, the The Chardonnay vom Kalk is the counterpart to Blaufränkisch vom Kalk – which is Altenburger's most famous wine. Markus lets the vines do their work in the vineyards and the wine do its thing at the winery. The result is therefore honest: natural wines that translate the terroir and the cool climate aspect through and through. In a visit to the winery in May, 2022, Markus confirmed that 2021 had been an exceptional year for his white wines.

For this wine, half of the fruit gets pressed directly, while the other half macerates on the skins for two days. This skin contact maceration adds a lot of texture and character to the wine. 50% of the juice ferments in concrete eggs, and 50% in big oak casks.

Pale gold colour, with a stony, chalky nose and aromas of fresh peaches. On the palate, fine aromas of exotic fruits such as tangerine and meyer lemon bloom, accompanied by a salty minerality. It has a dense structure coming from the ageing in concrete and big wooden barrels, with fresh acidity. Long finish.

Enjoy this Chardonnay with with fresh fish or creamy lemony pasta.

Juicy & Fruity

Sincronia Blanc is one of two complementary entry-level cuvées produced from biodynamically estate-farmed white grape varieties by Bàrbara Mesquida Mora. As with all of her wines, Sincronia Blanc is a mosaic recalling the combination of grape varieties in the blend while also representing the history of her pioneering winemaking family.

Sincronia Blanc radiates the light and spirit of the island of Mallorca. The wine is a blend of the indigenous prensal blanc and giró varieties with chardonnay, that was first planted by Bàrbara's parents more than 40 years ago. Once the varieties have been fermented separately, they are blended to obtain the final coupage, and they are kept with the fine lees until just before bottling. It is produced with low intervention and no added sulfur dioxide.

Bright, aromatic, and elegantly textured, Sincronia Blanc remains both fresh and substantive at the same time, a testament to the incredible provenance of the vines and the expert handling by Bàrbara.

The notes of white fruits like apple and pear appear first, then giving way to sweeter sensations reminiscent of peach or melon, with a slight hint of coconut. In the mouth it is well-rounded, meaty, long and persistent, with a finish that is full but fresh.

Pair it with seared scallops with brown butter and lemon pan sauce.

Mineral & Zesty

Vassaltis is the latest addition to Santorini’s long, storied winemaking history. Owner Yannis Valambous’ passion for wine drew him back to the island of Santorini, where he spent many a happy family holiday as a child. In the wake of the 2010 Greek financial crisis, a plan took root in his mind, a plan that was part dream, part folly. Yannis sought to breathe new life into the vineyards he inherited from his father.

An exceptionally complete wine with a great ageing potential, shows the true essence of what Santorini and Assyrtiko are about: aromas of basalt and pumice stone with ripe tropical fruits, honeysuckle and maritime salinity, and a palate of salty green fruits with high levels of minerality and acidity. The long aftertaste adds depth and weight to the wine making it a perfect pairing for seafood and fish.

Rich & Luxurious

Nicolas Potel is an iconic producer in Burgundy. He grew up in a family dedicated entirely to wine; and after gaining some experience internationally, he started his own project in the late 90's.

Founded in 2009, Maison Roche de Bellene offers a complete range of wines, with an emphasis on individual terroirs from vieilles vignes (old vines - 40 years or older) that are farmed responsibly. All of the growers that Nicolas Potel works with are either organic certified or farming according to the principles of lutte raisonée (“sustainable viticulture”). This enables Potel to consistently produce the expressive, terroir-driven style that is his vision.

This rich wine offers ripe yellow fruits and touches of vanilla. Along with its warm feeling and light acidity, it has a perfumed character that makes it exciting as well as drinkable.

Salty & Fresh

“Acrollam” is “Mallorca” in reverse, because Barbara Mesquida likes to do her work in her own way, often “the other way round” from what is customary, escaping from the established canons. 

Acrollam Blanc is made with hand-harvested, old-vine, prensal blanc and giró ros. For the premsal, it undergoes a pre-fermentative maceration, carbonic maceration and fermentation with the skins, while the giró is pressed directly. Once the different varieties have been fermented separately, they blend them all together, using no sulphites throughout its production.

Acrollam Blanc is a serious, textural, white wine with aromas of fresh plants, herbs, and spices, with moderate alcohol and a medium-bodied palate that is tasty with a salty twist, dry and long. It is a white wine produced with low-intervention, in limited quantities, built to improve with time in bottle; the result is one of the highest expressions of white wine Mallorca has to offer.

The ACROLLAM BLANC label shows a woman who is searching for her identity, femininity ready to plunge into the sea, ready to live new adventures and to lead changes without relinquishing her personal way of being: without fear of the waves or the storm. A passion for life, for feeling caressed by the salt texture of our sea.

Pair this wine with cod with scallion-sesame butter.