Terre à Terre Crayères Vineyard Reserve Fumé Blanc 2023

If the temptation is to chill this wine down low, don’t.  You will miss the nuance, the aromatics, the minerality and edge. Fermented and matured in seasoned 660L French demi-muids – hence, the fumé title – the role of oak brings the Sauvignon Blanc accent alive enhanced by a warm textural element. Pea shoot, dill, green herbs, a whisper of lemongrass and ginger joined to citrus and apple, sets the aroma alive. Appears immediately herbal, citrussy and bright with edgy acidity and a wet stone minerality but, wait, it starts to build. There is a depth to this wine that becomes apparent from the mid-palate onwards, offering a lingering lemongrass, gingery spice quality as it builds to the finish.