In March’s delivery: A tropical sauvignon blanc, an opulent riesling and a hearty malbec from Creekside’s exclusive Under Current label. Orders must be placed by March 17.
Why we’re into this wine: It’s not just leading the pack, it’s on a breakaway of its own. The benefit of fermenting slowly and coolly in stainless steel is the preservation of the bright, forward aromatics and abundant fruit flavour. Opting for a slightly off-dry expression, the winemaker halted fermentation early to allow for some residual sugar to remain in the wine. The acid deftly balances the sweetness, presenting a riesling that is crisp and thirst-quenching with honey undertones. An outstanding contribution to the premium Under Current series, which prioritizes small batch, higher risk winemaking.
What it tastes like: A floral perfume of honeysuckle and jasmine evolves to green apple, stone fruit and candied orange peel on the palate. Ample acidity gives the wine a lively, spritzy mouthfeel. This is a delicate riesling that has surprising zest and depth.
How to drink it: Chilled. The ‘Breakaway’ Riesling is a tantalizing sipper on its own, but will also pair beautifully with Thai mango salad with cilantro and lime, chicken peanut satay and spicy noodle dishes.
Why we’re into this wine: The name ‘Long Row’ comes from Creekside’s idea to leave these particular sauvignon blanc grapes on the vine a little longer than usual so as to extract optimal flavour. Winemaking is always a daring dance with Mother Nature, and when she turned, the winemakers were forced to hurriedly hand harvest the grapes. But what resulted from the adventure was a small-batch success that offers enormous flavour. Only 100 cases of this highly coveted wine were produced. Nothing risked, nothing gained.
What it tastes like: Tropical fruit–think papaya, guava and passionfruit–and citrus are the dominant notes in this wine, with a hint of nectarine and limestone. A light caramelized note of crème brûlée is present thanks to a brief period in oak.
How to drink it: Similar to the riesling, it’s lovely to sip on its own, but also a great match with washed rind cheese and potato gratin, roasted pork belly with pineapple salsa and asparagus risotto with parmesan.
Why we’re into this wine: Usually reserved for blending, the malbec from 2016’s bumper crop was the ripest that Creekside had ever seen, and they couldn’t resist bottling a small portion of it as a single varietal. Big flavour characterizes this wine: it’s jammy, juicy, and fruit forward. Structured and bold with a complementary balance of acid and tannin, this is a confident wine with good legs and limitless potential.
What it tastes like: Ripe strawberry, dark cherry, raspberry jam and dashes of cinnamon and clove greet the nose and palate. Earthy and herbal with a supple mouthfeel and lengthy finish.
How to drink it: Decant to encourage the wine’s expressiveness and pair with grilled red meats, hearty spaghetti Bolognese and funghi linguine with herbs.
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