This is an unbelievably good wine. I love it.
It’s Tom Shobbrook’s Giallo. A Sauvignon Blanc, but made naturally, with some skin contact. And fabulously packaged, too.
‘The Sauvignon is fermented on skins for about 6 weeks or until I get the structure I want,’ says Tom. ‘Then it’s pressed and put into casks. It’s bottled 9 months later or when bottles and corks have arrived.’
Shobbrook Wines Giallo 2011 Australia
11% alcohol. Amazing stuff. yellow/gold colour. Lovely crisp, precise palate combines grapefruit and citrus notes with ripe canteloup melon and grapey sweetness, as well as some spicy bite. But it’s actually bone dry – there’s just a perception of sweetness from the fruitiness. Great balance here for a skin contact white, with no heaviness or aggressive tannins. So fine, expressive and amazingly easy to drink. Complex, beguiling and vital. 94/100
UK agent for this wine is Les Caves de Pyrene; there are two agencies in the UK but they don’t share the same wine.
Here’s a video of me tasting this wine:
AS I don’t think it possible to make an SB that I can really get excited about, like yes, excited NO, I will try and source this. I generally do NOT like Orange wine or Natural wine but I am willing to give it a go after watching that reaction. Keep up the good work, I really couldn’t get into the job you guys do having to taste so many styles.
Jamie, you gotta get back to California/Oregon to see what some people here are doing with Natural whites. I know some folks who make a Skin Contact Rousanne that is amazing..
Drank Toms Giallo during harvest this year. Very inspiring and unique taste. Lovel. Made a skin fernent Gewurzt ourselves this year which is intriging Hoping to visit him next week in South Australia, if he’s back from Europe.
I too could get excited with this wine by the sounds of it!
Bob/Alberta
If you think that’s a beaut try the 2012. Very yummy. (techo-winespeak)
Tried the 2011 yesterday, beautiful wine, all grapefruit and elderflower, it was singing in the glass
totally agree Jamie, remarkable wine. According to Tom, the wine actually spent some time under flor which developed naturally in the cask. Intriguing!