Summit Estate 2021 Albariño

The oldest Summit Estate Albariño vines are now 5 years and the variety is thriving on The Granite Belt, we can realistically expect a big local future for this variety.

Golden straw in the glass with soft green hues. A very lifted redolent bouquet carries citrus both fresh and a little rindy backed by some sourness and pithy qualities. In combination the overall bouquet also produces some stone fruit and the underlying powerhouse of all this redolence is a bursting acidity that while a little boisterous certainly does not need to boast such is it’s undeniable presence.2021 Albariño

This is quite a different wine to the previous one – the 2019 First Harvest. The 2019 was very fresh and zingy with a racy acidity and bright citrus. This one has seen a little oak which has added some textural complexity not present in the 2019. Lovely citrus especially lemons with fresh rind and a little lime juice are at the forefront of the palatal welcome and then the flavours morph into a little sourness which reminds your taste buds of ripe stone fruits but which are swimming in a textural stream and just as you realise and appreciate the wines texture it is invaded by a zingy racy citric acidity which adds an enjoyable tang to your mouth and facilitates your attention to appreciate the minerality and salinity that comes next and cleanses all it’s precedents so you can return to the enjoyment refreshed and salivating for further indulgence.

When I first encountered the 2019 I was very impressed and I thought this will be the riesling of the Granite Belt as the variety has great acidity and tangy citrus propelled on a minerally sub strata. This 2021 has taken the grape to another level by the addition of a little oak which that variety has responded to so well I now wonder if it will challenge Granite Belt Chardonnay.

Such a beautiful and enjoyable wine, when I first opened this bottle there was a little spritz which dissipated quickly enough but also added a little more complexity to the experience although I doubt the spritz was intentional.

Tasted: Friday 12th November, 2021 without food and then with over several hours.
Alcohol: 13%
Closure: Screwcap
Price: $65
Suggested Drinking Window: Now to 2031
Wine Maker: Abraham de Klerk
Fruit Source: Estate
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Posted by Peter Pacey

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