These were some of the white wine highlights from a recent portfolio tasting with major UK agency business Bibendum.

Litmus Element 20 2013 Surrey, England
This is lovely: really expressive with a subtly nutty edge to the grapefruit and pear fruit, together with some citrus brightness. Complex and beguiling with a subtle hint of green and refined fruity notes, showing a hint of herb and cabbage in the background, but in a nice complexing way. The nutty finish lets it down slightly, but still, this is a really impressive effort. 90/100

Alvear Marques de la Sierra Dry PX  2016 Andalucia, Spain
Made from Pedro Ximenez. Very interesting with fennel, nuts, herbs and apples on the nose. The palate is herby and nutty with some lemons and pears. Has subtle oxidative characters that look really nice. A really compelling wine. 92/100

Weingut Peth-Wetz Unfiltered Riesling 2016 Rheinhessen, Germany
This is so pretty. Grapefruit and lemons, with some pear and melon, too. Has lovely weight and just a hint of sweetness. Delicate but with plenty of flavour. 92/100

Johann Baptist Schafer Pittermannchen Riesling Kabinett 2016 Nahe, Germany
Slightly minty, limey nose. Fresh but rich on the palate with some melony sweetness and bright citrus, too. Lively limey finish. Quite sweet. 90/100

Rieslingfreak No5 2017  Clare Valley, Australia
Balanced and refined with sweet citrus fruit. Has a hint of sweetness and a lovely seamless mouthfeel, without any untoward grippiness. Lemon and lime on the finish: still quite primary but with good potential. 91/100

Jean Perrier Chignin Bergeron Fleur de Roussanne 2016 Savoie, France
Beautiful nose of ripe pears, apples and nuts, with a touch of hay. The palate is supple with some cabbage hints under the slightly waxy pear fruit, together with notes of apricot and toast. Complex and subtly oxidative, with lovely persistence in the mouth. 92/100

Alphonse Mellot, Sancerre Blanc La Moussiere 2016 Loire, France
Lively aromatic nose, showing fine citrus fruits and subtle grassiness. The palate has real presence with spice, apples, pears and even a touch of honey. The finish is long and mineral with finely wrought green hints. Very stylish. 92/100

Kreydenweiss Lerchenberg Pinot Gris 2016 Alsace, France
Complex, oxidative nose of baked apple, honey and ripe pear fruit. The palate is lively and spicy with a slight vinegary edge to the sweet apple and table grape fruit. It’s an oxidative style, and perhaps is pushing it a bit too far. 88/100

Millton Te Arai Chenin Blanc 2016 Gisborne, New Zealand
Intense and lively with a subtle creamy edge to the sweet citrus and pear fruit, with really zingy, vital, mineral acidity. Faint hints of cheese and straw, too. Lovely complexity here. 92/100

Domaine Grand Veneur Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Le Miocene 2016 Rhone, France
A blend of Claudette and Roussanne. This has freshness and poise, with hints of apricot richness alongside pure pear and citrus fruit. There’s nice concentration and freshness, with a faint trace of bread and wheat, with finely wrought fruit complexity. 93/100