Winemaker Notes
This wine can be enjoyed with all seafood, white meats, salads and cheeses. Optimum drinking: now - 3 years.
"The 2006 The Violinist (100% young vine Verdelho from McLaren Vale) is a gorgeously full-bodied Verdelho that was fermented and aged in both new and old French and American wood, then bottled early. No malolactic was used. It is a powerful white boasting notes of honeyed melons and other tropical fruits, beeswax, and crisp citrus. There is good underlying acidity, an explosively rich mid-palate, and a fresh, lively, elegant, creamy texture as well as finish. Speaking from experience, this stunning wine works spectacularly well with Maryland's soft shell crabs. Enjoy it during its first year of life. Sadly, there are only 1,300 cases." -Wine Advocate
Professional Ratings
While capable of making a delightful Portugeuse dry white wine, great as an aperitif and for pairing with raw fish and oysters, Verdelho is also a major grape in the production of Madeira. While many less expensive Madeira wines can be blends of different years or grapes, including Verdelho, single-varietal Madeira represent the highest quality versions that also have long aging capacities. Sercial, Boal, Malmsey and Verdelho are the best Madeira grapes. Of the four, Verdelho is the most concentrated and smoky. It is dry, intense, spicy and is flexible in food pairings. Somm Secret—Like many other fortified wines, Madeira made of Verdelho can tolerate extreme aging and some rare bottles can still be found from the late 19th/early 20th century.
Known for opulent red wines with intense power and concentration, McLaren Vale is home to perhaps the most “classic” style of Australian Shiraz. Vinified on its own or in Rhône Blends, these hot-climate wines are deeply colored and high in extract with signature hints of dark chocolate and licorice. Cabernet Sauvignon is also produced in a similar style.
Whites, often made from Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc tend to be opulent and full of tropical, stone and citrus fruit.