Xiao Pu Tangerine 2024

I feel like I need to start with the blend, though I’ll preface that by saying it really doesn’t matter when drinking this wine: 35% Chardonnay, 35% Welschriesling, 20% Viognier, 5% Petit Manseng, 3% Gewürztraminer and 2% Muscat. It also has a small portion of Chardonnay from 2022 in the blend. Let’s just call it orange, shall we? I will also add that Xiao Pu calls themself a ‘nomadic’ winery that produces idiosyncratic wines. I like that. Mandarin rind, dried apricot, ginger, black tea and preserved kumquat. In the mouth, it moves through apple cider and pithless orange juice, with loud, lifted acid and grippy tannins. It’s a good example of the style, better with food, and capable of standing up to spice, curries and pork. 

Cyndal Petty

Wine Critic at Winepilot

A hopeless romantic for wine and food, Cyndal is nearing 15 years in hospitality while still (just) under 30. A Chef-turned-Sommelier and award-winning wine professional, Cyndal recently left a Group Sommelier role where she curated seven wine lists across multiple venues and led the wine team to Gourmet Traveller Wine Bar of the Year—just months after opening. Now freelance, Cyndal is a wine consultant, event host, wine judge, and wine writer. Passionate about sharing wine’s story with the world, she brings a fresh voice and creative solutions to the industry. After studying and traveling through most of her 20s, she’s now based in WA’s southwest, proudly embracing her role as a WA coastal cowgirl.

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