Translation missing: en.ACellars Newsletter, 30th September, 2021: ACellars Newsletter, 30th September, 2021
The "Aren't You Gladys We Made A Picnic Pack For You" Pack
Sydney's Weekend Weather Report: A hazy shade of vintner juice.
Yes, unfined, unfiltered, food-friendly, juicy and hazy natural wines are perfect for your weekend picnic, whether you are lucky enough to be out and about at your favourite park on a picnic for five, or staying at home, laying out your picnic rug on your lounge room floor, surrounded by your lockdown purchased forest of indoor plants to create the effect of the great outdoors, without the insects.
As Sydney prepares for another weekend of frivolity in our green spaces, we might not be able to help you if you are a couple of sandwiches short of a picnic, but we can make sure you have a great selection of wine. The "Aren't You Gladys We Made A Park Pack For You Pack!": a selection of our favourite party-of-five crowd-pleasing easy-drinking picnic wines, with a rainbow of hazy, natural wines.
Perfect for hazing on a sunny afternoon when that's all you've got. Get it here.
In France's Loire Valley, Chenin Blanc might be synonymous with the famed region of Vouvray, but François Chidaine has put the smaller, lesser known Montlouis sur Loire on the map.
Yes, Chidaine has done for Chenin in the Loire what Didier Dagueneau did for its Sauvignon Blanc, creating a renaissance of winemaking in Montlouis and resuscitating sites in Vouvray. His reputation amongst Loire vignerons should bring no surprise that in his youth, Dagueneau's own son Benjamin sought to gain experience from Chidaine.
Although Chidaine's Vouray vineyard wine, the Baudoin, is declassified to Vin de France on account of it being vinified across the river border, the collection really speaks of the terroir of Montlouis. Les Bournais is perhaps the the most "Vouvray-esque" of the Montlouis, but even the Chenin d'Ailleur, the Chenin "from another place" really echoes Chidaine's spirit of Montlouis. First made in 2016 when Chidaine lost most of his fruit to ferocious frosts, the Fort family in Limoux, Languedoc offered up part of their Chenin harvest to the Chenin Master. Despite more ideal conditions in the Loire over the past years, the relationship has weathered the storm, now with the third vintage of the Vin de France as a more playful and juicy offering amongst Chidaine's classic style.
The Montlouis sur Loire wines from François Chidaine are deep, powerful, layered and textural. Whole bunch, wild ferment and long ageing on lees in larger format neutral oak with a very considerate, hands off approach in the cellar gently guide these wines to bottle. A true master. Explore the collection here.
It turns out the Presidents of the United States of America were wrong when they contemplated leaving grungy Seattle and moving to the country.
Peaches don't come from a can.
They come from a glass of this week's staff pick: Koerner Pigato Vermentino.
Brothers Damon and Jono sourced the Vermentino fruit from a slight northern aspect of the Koerner family's Gullyview Vineyard in the Clare Valley. Naturally fermented on its skins for 20 days, the Pigato is refreshing and lip-smackingly delicious, like a salty glass of peach iced tea.