2022 Ovitelli Blanc

The 2022 Ovitelli Blanc comprises 57% Grenache Blanc, 24% Roussanne, 8% Grenache Gris, 6% Bourboulenc, 5% Clairette. Portions of the Grenache Blanc and Roussanne were destemmed and crushed to ceramic egg for an extended 120 days on skins. This component is, as I see it, the defining factor of the finished wine, which has notes of crushed flowers, beeswax, cheesecloth, white tea, white pepper, ash and torched straw. It has taken me some time to get my mind and heart around this wine; I can't decide if I find it to be a work of genius or just deeply unexpected. It is textural and chewy, which I love. It is also spicy and edgy and even a little tart, which is the skin contact component, I am sure. It adds bitter almonds and saltbush to the mix. The wine is overly subdued and long, and yet what I know of the Yangarra vineyard practices and winery resources, there will be no stone left unturned in the making of this wine, from every possible angle. So, over to you. I can't quite put it down. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.