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97
/ 100
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95
/ 100
Tasting Notes
Winery Notes
55% Grenache Blanc
17% Grenache Gris
17% Roussanne
7% Clairette
5% Bourboulenc
2023 OVITELLI BLANC
Inspired by the textural white wines of the Southern Rhône, Ovitelli Blanc brings these traditional varieties together in blended harmony. Gently fermented and aged with skin contact in large ceramic eggs.
VINTAGE SUMMARY
The growing season began with significantly higher than average rainfall. The cool, wet conditions continued through Spring, setting us up for balanced canopies and lower yields. La Niña weather patterns forecasted cooler temperatures and continued rainfall for harvest. We were able to enhance vineyard practices such as shoot thinning and leaf removal to promote airflow, reduce mildew and increase sun exposure to bunches. From our experience, a cold vintage in a warm region can produce some of the best wines. Due to the cultural practices implemented, we were able to pick the majority of the vineyard in a three-week window prior to Easter, completed in early April. Wines produced from this vintage will be some of the prettiest and most delicate from the Estate.
WINEMAKING
All varieties hand-picked and sorted separately. Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris and Roussanne picked on the 26th of March and Clairette and Bourboulenc on the 18th of April. Portions of the Grenache Blanc and Roussanne destemmed and crushed to ceramic egg and macerated on skins for an extended period, averaging 7 months. The remaining batches were whole bunch basket pressed, and only the very lightest pressings are kept separate to be considered for the final blend. These are un-fined, unsettled and fermented exclusively in ceramic. No sulphur is added until the completion of fermentation or the extended skin contact portions are removed from skins. Matured in ceramic after blending for a further 4 months. 47% of the final blend was skin contacted. Bottled March 2024. Certified Organic/Biodynamic.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
Classification: White
Variety: White Blends
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750ml (Bottle)
Country: Australia
Region: South Australia, McLaren Vale
Alcohol %: 13.5%
Cellaring: 5-10 Years
Scores
97 / 100"55/17/17/7/4% grenache blanc/grenache gris/roussanne/clairette/bourboulenc. Some grenache blanc and roussanne was fermented on skins for around seven months (47% of the finished blend). The remaining fruit was basket pressed. Texture. For me, it’s the defining point of this wine. Oh, I love the hard-to-pin-down flavours that drift through orchard fruits and citrus, suggest a piney and briny herbal note – like a sea breeze gliding through a cypress tree – and are further complexed with a hint of cracked fennel seed and white pepper. But it’s the texture that really elevates this, the frisson of pumiceous (it’s a word ...) grip and succulent fruit, the sapid, mineral/tonic quality, the elegant tensioning, fine-tuned to perfection. What a delight."
- James Halliday's Wine Companion
95 / 100
"The nose is aromatic, expressing notes of peaches, mandarin confit, green papayas and honeydew melon. The palate is textural and rounded with bright acidity, giving notes of Meyer lemons, dried herbs, chamomile tea, apple skin and sea salt. A very complex blend of 56% grenache blanc, 17% grenache gris, 17% roussanne, 7% clairette and 3% bourboulenc that sat in clay eggs on the skins for five months. Drink or hold. Screw cap."
- James Suckling