I had a glass of this with a friend and some friendly pork rillettes. Not sure of the match, but the wine was very enjoyable, if initially served way too cold.
The nose is quiet at first, evolving to show ripe apple flesh and a sharp, detailed minerality that elevates and organises the whole aroma profile. There’s also a sense of sea breezes here, a light brine influence that I find tantalising and quite visual.
Nothing on the subtle nose flags the dramatic intensity of the palate, though. Instant impact on entry, this wine doesn’t hold its apple and lemon fruit flavours back at all. There is plenty going on if you value complexity; for such a young and relatively affordable wine, I’m impressed by the array of citrus rind flavours, moving between floral and fleshy then back again. There’s also an architecture of minerals here, contesting and ultimately overpowering the fruit, though the effect isn’t nearly as brutal as my words might suggest. Acidity is quite sensational, zipping things along and remaining a firm influence right along the line. The impression is crystalline, precise and driven; flavour, sure, but this wine’s strength is more figurative. Loved it.
Champalou
Price: $A40
Closure: Stelvin
Source: Retail
Tasting this a year on from your note and it’s drinking really well. It’s, perhaps, the same wine as in your note…although the fruit is probably more prominent and less constrained by the structure. Some lovely green apple skins up against the beginnings of honeyed notes – a dash of spice too.
Lovely now but I’d happily put some down in the cellar. I suspect there’s some fun to be had in the years ahead.
Totally wish I had some of this in my cellar because, like you, I suspect it will be a lot of fun to follow over the next few years.