Against my better judgment which is usually bad, thus here I go , here are the top white wines that I tasted this year. No attention was paid to price, region, or whether it had a ridiculously heavy bottle although those B. Under DIAM5. The best and most consistent of the entire line just might be the Sauvignon Blanc. Much more in the Sancerre style with balanced fruit and acidity, this wine always seems to shine every vintage. This is no exception.
Lemon and dried apricot paired with crushed seashell, an herbal note, and a distinct salinity, the nose really is fantastic. As is the palate with the aforementioned balance between all that fruit and a lip-smacking tartness. I have stated many times that I am no fan of the variety, but at around twenty bucks?
This is an absolute steal. According to winemaker Elizabeth Vianna, this ia a wine meant to age at least years. Nice lemon fruit with a hint of oak in the glass along with lovely mineral notes. Wonderful fruit on the palate with a nice roundness but also brilliant acidity. Lengthy finish. Under cork. There are few wines on this planet that get me as emotional as one from Donnafugata.
I have been fortunate enough to visit the winery on a couple of occasions and it is spectacular. The winery on the Western half of Sicily is beautiful, of course, but the people there are what makes the trip memorable. Warm, inviting, hospitable, and genuinely nice , what a treat. The island is breathtaking, between the vineyards, the caper farms, and the Mediterranean, what possibly could be more breathtaking?
Perhaps this wine. Dark amber in color with aromas of caramelized orange peel, candied peach, and even a bit of natural cola, this wine is breathtaking even before the first sip. On the palate? Holy cow. Nutty, fruity, sweet, but not unctuous, tart, but not biting, rich but not overpowering. Every time I sip a wine from Donnafugata, I recall my time spent in Sicily…. I was at a Houston steakhouse with winemaker Hugh Chappelle and before our wet-aged vs.
