A Taste of Malta:The White Wines (3).

Chardonnay Ripe Grape Cluster.

To continue our topic "A Taste of Malta", we now go to part 3 of this feature by covering several selected white wines from various winemakers in Malta.


This phenomenal fruit on the vine to make
these fantastic wines. Man's ingenuity is supreme.

Selected white wines of Malta.

All of the wine brands covered here are among the topmost brands of these winemakers and cover a range of grape varieties from Chardonnay, Vermentino, Viogner and Sauvignon Blanc. Some wines are barrel fermented, others are oak-aged, whereas others are fermented in stainless steel tanks. All have their distinctive characteristics, aromas, flavours, and finishing lenghts. White wine, due to its lack of tannins, is best drunk young, in most cases in this instance, by the time that they are three years old from the vintage date. It is advisable to always check the vintage date on the bottle's label when purchasing white wine in a wine shop or enoteca, and more so when wine is ordered in a restaurant. If the date shown on the label is beyond three years from the vintage year to the day of purchase, in my humble opinion, the wine is to be changed (prior to opening in a restaurant, of course). If buying from a wine shop always buy the latest vintage, for example, the current vintage on sale at this time, January 2011, is the 2009 vintage.
As white wine ages, its fruit flavour fades away and what one gets in return is complexity, which most people do not understand. Other wines simply become bland. Therefore, to enjoy these fine wines to the full, drink them young and fresh, within two years, or to three years maximum from vintage, at the correct temperature, 11 to 12 deg.C, on their own, or with the correct food pairing.

Enchor-Chardonnay 2009.

1. TA' MENA ENCHOR GOZO 2009 DOK - Barrel Fermented CHARDONNAY.

Produced from handpicked grapes, harvested from the Ta' Mena Estate in the Ramla Valley vineyards on the Isle of Gozo.
Barrel-fermented and matured for 6 months in new French barrels to give a full-bodied, intense and elegant wine. Rich golden yellow in colour, having aromas of tropical fruit and vanilla, with a soft toasty oak palate integrated with the wine's intense tangerine and citrus flavours. The wine finishes with bright acidity, giving it a crisp, fresh and very elegant finish.
Alcohol content:13.5%
Price range: Eur13.5
Rating: RS92.




2. TA' MENA 1551 -GOZO 2009 DOK CHARDONNAY.

Enchor and 1551 Chardonnay 2009 Gozo DOK.

Produced from handpicked grapes selected from vines in the Ramla Valley vineyard, yielding not more than 2kg per vine. It is fermented and matured in stainless steel tanks for 9 months under strictly temperature controlled conditions. Deep, golden yellow colour, pristinely fresh in its aroma and flavours of pineapple, ripe apples and nuanced lees treatment. The wine has a good a good medium-body with a tangy acidity to give it a good crisp finish.
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Price range: Eur8.80
RATING:  RS88.






3. GRAN CAVALIER CHARDONNAY 2009 DOK SUPERIOR - BARREL FERMENTED.
Winemaker: Emm Delicata Winery-Malta.

Produced from Malta grown Chardonnay grapes, handpicked from individual pocket sized vineyards.Fermented in French Oak barriques. Typical hot climate deep yellow golden colour, with a bouquet of citrus. pineapple and tropical fruits. In the mouth a crisp citrus flavour with a good mineral structure. Elegant wine, good finish and crsip aftertaste with crisp acidity.
Alcohol content: 13%
Price range: Eur 13.50
RATING: RS 91.

Delicata Grand Vin de Hauteville Chardonnay 2009.

4. GRAND VIN DE HAUTEVILLE OAK-AGED CHARDONNAY 2009 DOK.
Winemaker: Emm. Delicata Winery, Malta.

Deep yellow colour, medium-bodied, full flavoured ripe Chardonnay with strong vanilla overtones from the French oak barriques during maturation. Slightly astringent. Aromatic and spicy on the nose, Ripe fruit flavours, fresh acidity. Buttery with a hint of hazelnuts. Good tangy finish.
Alcohol content: 12.7%
Price Range: EUR8.50
RATING: RS 87.

Clear whitish yellow

5. GRAN CAVALIER SAUVIGNON BLANC 2009 DOK.
Winemaker: Emm. delicata Winery.

Produced from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes hravested and handpicked in family owned pocket sized vineyards. Left in contact with the skins for some days prior to pressing to extract the full flavour of the grape varietal. Light-bodied, crisp and refreshing white wine with notable refreshing acidity. On the palate it gives a herbal sensation. mineral and light, citrus flavour mix. Dry with a good finish.
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Price range: Eur11.
RATING: RS 88




6. MERIDIANA ISIS CHARDONNAY OF MALTA 2009 DOK.

Meridiana Isis and Astarte 2009.

Unoaked Chardonnay. Very little information is available regarding vinification, fermentation, maturing and aging processes.
Greenish yellow in colour, fresh, citrus and apple notes, crisply refreshing.
Alcohol content: 12%
Price range: Eur11.25
RATING: RS87









7. MERIDIANA ASTARTE VERMENTINO 2009 DOK.

Produced from a novel blend of Vermentino, Chardonnay and other Mediterranean varietals.
Citrus and apricot flavour, rich greenish yellow wine of intrinsic clarity.  Very good structure and complexity,. Dry with good acidity. Bouquet of citrus with hints of summer fruits. On the palate the flavours are citrusy and ripe apricot and plum. Very good, linegring finish, fresh and refreshing.
Alcohol content: 12%
Price range: Eur 10.50
RATING: RS91.






8. LAURENTI CHARDONNAY 2009 DOK.
Winemaker: Camilleri Wines Limited - Malta.

Fine white wine fermented in French oak barriques, which gives the wine a complex bouquet of ripe summer fruit with overtones of vanilla and spice. On the palate the flavours are fruit forward, citrus flavour, very subtle oak, with a fresh crisp finish.
Alcohol content: 13%
Price Range Eur10.
RATING: RS90

Laurenti and Pinoforte 2009.

9. LAURENTI VIOGNER-VERMENTINO 2009 DOK.
Winemaker: Camilleri Wines Limited, Malta.

Pale yellow straw colour.  Vibrant, refreshing summer wine. Refreshing tropical with optimal freshness. Aromatic, crisp and cleansing. On the nose it has aromas of crunchy pear, spice and lemon rind. On the palate it shows grapefruit and melons undertones with lemon zest acidity which gives a lingering fresh finish.

Alcohol content: 12.5%
Price range: Eur10.
RATING: RS90.

10. PIANOFORTE 2009 VIOGNER-VERMENTINO DOK.
Winemaker: Camilleri Wines Limited, Malta.

Un-oaked blend of Viogner and Vermentino grapes. Aromas of orange blossom, lemon zest and summer fruit. On the palate the wine is dry, with a fruity characteristic of peach, grapefruit and pineapple. The wine is complimented by gentle and fresh acidity.
Alcohol content: 12%
Price range: Eur10
RATING: RS88.

FOOD PAIRING FOR THE ABOVE WINES:

Cheese selections for wine- Red; White and Sweet.

 For oaked white wine:   Cheese: Brie, Camembert, Gouda, Jack, Parmessan; Chicken baked, fried roast or in creamsauce; Crab, prawns and lobster especially in cream sauce;  Sauted fish or fish cooked in salt crust; oysters; pasta with cream sauce, or ricotta filled ravioli, cannelloni, etc. White fish. Seafood grilled or sauted; swordfish.
Avoid: Red meat; raw meat; oriental food; suhi and shasimi; salty food; sweet dishes.

Seafood for un-oaked white wine.

For un-oaked white wine: Fish poached, grilled or steamed when citrus or lemon is being used; stuffed bell pepper; grilled or roast pork; veal; poultry; rabbit; risotto; salads; salmon; pizza; Seafood and shellfish in broth with lemon juice; sushi and shasimi.
Avoid: red meat.

Camilleri Wines-Dolce Vita Dessert Wine 2009 DOK

11. DOLCE VITA LATE HARVEST 2009-MALTA DOK- DESSERT WINE.
Winemaker: Camilleri Wines Limited.

Blended from late harvested Viogner,Vermentino and Sauvignon Blanc grapes that were harvested three weeks later than the normal vendemia. The grape cluster stalk is severed half-way through wilst the cluster is still hanging from the vine, and left to dry out on the vine, but at the same time recieving nutrients from the vine and soil. The dried out cluster is then harvested and handpicked carefully. After some more drying out inside the winery, the grapes are crushed and the nectar is fermented under natural conditions, resulting in an excellent dessert wine with a high level of natural sweetness in the wine accompanied by sweet ripe apple and honey notes.
Alcohol content: 10%
Price range: Eur13.50
RATING: RS91.



Can't be any sweeter- yummy yum.



Ricotta cannoli.

Food pairing: Sweet desserts; flans, tarts, pies, gateaux, cassatella siciliana. Cheese;tropical fruit; espressos.