Explore the coasts of Istria, Sonoma and Canary Islands through these sips.
Littorai Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
With a name that means ‘coast’ in Latin, Littorai is a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir specialist located in the western hills of Anderson Valley. Their position nets all the benefits of being coastal in one of the coolest parts of the region, ideal for founders Ted and Heidi Lemon’s cult Burgundian style. The Savoy plot is the well-regarded ‘toe’ of the slope, planted with a complex variety of Dijon and Pommard clones since 1991. Expect floral red berry character and baking spices in a structured yet supple Pinot, which spent 16 months in 25% new French oak. $123 from artisan-cellars.com
ANDERSON VALLEY 2017 VINTAGE REPORT
• Severe wildfires swept through northern California in October, affecting Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino. Most wineries had picked their grapes, avoiding the risk of smoke taint.
• Heavier rainfall and heat waves across the growing season affected each region differently. While yields were down on average, Mendocino’s red grapes did well.
• Littorai picked their Savoy vineyard in early September while battling an unpredictable heatwave. Rigorous picking and sorting were practiced on sunburnt and shrivelled berries.
GRGIC POŠIP 2018
Mention the Adriatic, and Pošip – Croatia's iconic white grape – comes to mind. Put this varietal in the hands of Croatia’s most iconic winemaker Miljenko “Mike” Grgich, now 97, and you’ll find a penetrating slice of the Mediterranean through notes of citrus, almonds, ripe peaches and savoury minerality that whisks you to the sea. Grgich made his name in California when his 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the Judgment of Paris in 1976, and he co-founded Grgich Hills in California and this family winery in 1996 on Pelješac. As rightly noted by the distributors, this wine pairs well with white fish, lightly spiced Thai BBQ chicken, and a Game of Thrones marathon. $69 from adriaticpantry.com
ENVÍNATE TÁGANAN BLANCO 2018
Take a leap across the Atlantic to the unlikely but very passionate wine growing Canary Islands. A project by four winemaker friends whose name Envínate translates into ‘wine you’ seeks to explore the unique phylloxera-free and volcanic terroir. Táganan Blanco comes from the northeast of Tenerife, on cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The blend includes white native grapes such as Listán Blanco, Albillo Criollo, Marmajuelo, Gual, and Malvasia, which are fermented with wild yeast with some skin contact. Previous releases were rated 94 by Wine Advocate, pointing to the wine’s chalky, salivating minerality against its ripe and nutty fullbodied finish. Enjoy with Spanish tapas or seafood. $59.90 from artisan-cellars.com
In the making since late 2017, Asia’s youngest Master of Wine Sarah Heller has been working with Thai fine glassware maker Lucaris on a groundbreaking range of wine glasses. The unconventional Elements collection reveals features like narrow waists, aroma boosting tight curves, extra wide bowls for swirling and rounded lips for smoothening textures across five glass shapes. Look for it in Bangkok and Hong Kong where Heller is based, while a Singapore launch will be confirmed later. lucariscrystal.com
