Simon Gilbert (Australia) Verdelho 2002
Simon Gilbert is the young, fifth generation winemaker in charge of this Hunter Valley estate at Mudgee, just north of Sydney. Verdelho is one of the noble grapes of Madeira wine, and Australia has specialsed in making it into dry, fragrant but powerful whites wines in recent years. This example has a pale green colour and an attractive nose of lemon and lime, with a doughy quality and beneath a gentle spice and delicate notes of white flowers. On the palate this is again delicate in flavour; there’s almost a sweetness to the fruit, like jelly beans and nectarine juice, and then a dry white fruit character fills in, with plenty of crisp, fresh pear and apple. It has medium-body and a nice leesy texture, with some waxiness and richness emerging. It has nice acidity too, with lemony notes. A light style of wine, and quite elusive, it is refreshing for summer drinking or matching to Thai and Chinese food. £4.99 Safeway.