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Idlewild Fox Hill Vineyard Arneis 2015Idlewild's 2015 Arneis Fox Hill Vineyard is another deep, expressive wine. Varietal aromatics open up first, followed by generous orchard fruit, white peach and floral notes. Drink this inviting Arneis over the next few years. ANTONIO GALLONI2015ArneisUSA362$66.00 As low as $59.40 -
Idlewild The Bee Flora and Fauna White Wine 2017Proprietor Sam Bilbro has spent virtually a lifetime around wine. His family owns Marietta, while brothers Jake and Scot are behind the reborn Limerick Lane. At Idlewild, Sam Bilbro focuses on Italian and other less well-known varieties. In addition to these wines, I also tasted the, Arneis Fox Hill Vineyard, Vin Gris Dry Creek Valley and Grenache Gris Gibson Ranch. The best wines in this range are compelling, and point to a bright future. ANTONIO GALLONI, www.vinousmedia.com
Having had a relationship with the Bilbro family as importers of the Marietta wines some years ago we were delighted to find youngest son, Sam, was behind this new venture, Idlewild. In many ways the wines are the anitpathy of what so many believe Californian wines are supposed to be. Hunting out heritage stands of Italian and Rhone varietals (mostly in Mendocino County) Bilbro makes extremely interesting wines characterised by texture, savouriness and subtlety. Skin contact is a part of the wines as is a relatively non-interventionist approach; both indicative of the preferences of the younger brigade of Calfornia producers. PWS
The 2017 White The Bee Flora & Fauna, is a classy, polished wine to drink now and over the next few years. Green pear, mint, white flowers and light tropical overtones all grace this very pretty, expressive wine. The Muscat in particular adds an attractive aromatic flair. ANTONIO GALLONI2017Arneis, Cortese, MuscatUSA362$63.00 As low as $56.70 -
Idlewild Fox Hill Vineyard Arneis 2017The 2017 Arneis Fox Hill Vineyard is very pretty. Aromatic and pliant, with lovely orchard fruit, chamomile, almond and dried flower notes, the 2017 has a lot to offer. There is a lovely element of softness that emerges with time in the glass and adds quite a bit of character. ANTONIO GALLONI2017ArneisUSA362$68.00 As low as $61.20 -
Correggia Roero Arneis 2021 (Screwcap)The Correggia family are a small yet formidable force in the sandy soils of Roero, just west of the Tanaro River in Piedmont. After the tragic death of her husband, Ornella with help from friends propelled the wines of Matteo Correggia to even greater heights. She is now flanked by her children Giovanni and Brigitta and the wines have never looked better.
Fragrant aromas of white flowers, citrus and pear on the nose lead into a finely textured palate. Hints of sweet almond arise. Its fresh and tingly finish with a fine phenolic chew carrying the orchard fruits into a long gentle close. GABRIELLE POY, PWS
2021ArneisItaly457$44.00 As low as $39.60 -
Correggia Roero Arneis 2022Pear, apple, a white flower perfume, something a little like hay, and almonds. It’s a glossy wine but has a balanced attack of acidity, a slight lemon zest and almond bitterness, a pleasant and appropriate level of chalky grip, with a juicy finish of good length. Good. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front
Small tweaks and incremental changes in vinification and winemaking have seen the wines improve every year. The quality across the board has always been top of their class and further cements this outstanding estate as one of the pre-eminent producers in the region. It would certainly be no stretch to call them a leading light in the heart and hearts of Roero.
This is another great rendition. A hint of tropical fruit that lends an almost riesling like element to the wine, along with a floral hint. There is a some lovely depth to the fruit and that bit of extra flesh show so nicely on this wine. Still fresh and zippy on the finish with a little phenolic grip that carries the orchard fruits into a long, gentle close. Yum!
2021ArneisItaly457$44.00 As low as $39.60 -
Valfaccenda Arneis 2021Luca and Carolina are two of the best people we’ve met in the world of wine. We’ve known one another for many years and long admired the wines so we decided it was time to navigate our friendship and import the wines. Luca Faccenda grew up in the hills of Roero, northwest of Alba, where his family made wines in Valle Faccenda, a small valley between Canale and Cisterna. The vineyards in Roero are primarily on sandy soils, the hills very steep and difficult to work, and the wines more perfumed and pretty compared to those of the Langhe with a distinct saltiness on the palate.
This comes from Loreto and Mompellini with an average vine age of 15 years and the vineyard parcels are divided into ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ soils, harvested separately. The rich soils bring acidity and and sharpness to the wine, whilst the poor soils more structure and warmth. The poorer soils produce smaller berries with ripe tannins and these parcels are fermented and aged in old wood, with about 10-15 days on skins. The wine goes through malo and is blended and bottled in the waning moon of late Spring following the harvest and then aged in bottle for a minimum of three months.
Luca makes the point that his Arneis is grown only on the steep hillsides (where mostly Nebbiolo is grown) and it’s the first variety to flower and the last to ripen. He is looking complexity rather than a simple aperitivo wine. The nose is rich with peach and pear fruit and touch of white pepper. The mid palate fills out with depth and some tannin, finishing crisp and salty.2021ArneisItaly499$62.00 As low as $55.80 -
Correggia Roero Arneis 2023Pear, apple, a little green herb, some perfume, candle wax and smoked almond. It’s medium-bodied, bright and has good flavour, though not too much, and it keeps itself trim with some light citrus bite, a slightly waxy texture, some chalkiness, and offers a finish of good length with some preserved lemon tang. It’s well-balanced and drinks very well. Nice. GARY WALSH, the wine front2023ArneisItaly457$44.00 As low as $39.60 -
Santadi Vermentino Villa Solais 2023Cantina Santadi, from Sardinia’s southwestern coastal region known as Sulcis, was founded in 1960 as a cooperative of local growers. Under the guidance of Antonello Pilloni, Santadi has become one of Sardinia’s, and Italy’s, finest wineries, with more than 200 growers farming 600 hectares.
The Sulcis peninsula is, geographically, Sardinia’s most ancient area, rich in archaeological sites, and offers an astonishing palette of variations and contrasts, with coastal sand dunes, gentle hills and inlets, narrow strips of flatland and inland mountains, rugged cliffs overhanging the seas interspersed with silky-smooth white beaches, pine trees, junipers and vineyards. In these sandy soils, pre-phylloxera vines continue to survive and thrive.
Made with 10% Nuragus, another local variety, this spends a few months maturation on lees, in stainless steel, to give the wine an extra dimension of flavour and texture. Citrus notes and hints of tropical fruit, the palate is minerally and refreshing.
2023VermentinoItaly480$28.00 As low as $25.20 -
Little Frances Eleventh House White Vermentino 2022Little Frances was established in 2012 by Aussie ex-pat Erin Frances Pooley, who set out to make the wines she loves to drink from Californian grapes. Enamoured with the nuance and intrigue of aged white wine (and missing Hunter Valley Semillon from home), Erin started Little Frances in 2012 with just 200 cases of Semillon from a high altitude vineyard in Northern California, farmed by the 3rd generation growers.
We knew of Erin with her work with one of our producers, Hobo Wine Co. Owner Kenny is a friend and mentor and we have been super excited to try her wines and needless to say we were not disappointed.
This blend is vermentino dominant with some aromatic components and textural support from pinot Gris & friulano all from the Apline Valleys, a region which Erin loves for the diversity of varietal selection and what that brings to the table. The trio get fermented in barrels and aged on their lees for a while.
A beautiful co
mbination of zingy freshness, weight and texture. Erin has captured the pristine fruits in peek ripeness then judiciously and cleverly add nuance as well as light and shade to the final wines through throughtful winemaking.
2022VermentinoAustralia$31.00 As low as $27.90