Garagiste Le Stagiaire Gewurztraminer 2018

2018 welcomes a trio of cameo appearances into the increasingly impressive Le Stagiaire stable. The Gewürztraminer was cropped from a small patch of low-yielding vines rooted in the grey sandy loams of Teurong. The fruit from these 30-year-old vines is handpicked and whole-bunch pressed to old barriques. Wild fermented, the wine spends eight months nourishing on its ferment lees before bottling. 

"Floral, fruity, rose water-meets-nashi pear scents. Palate is slick and then tightens up to a squeaky finish with some glycerol licks left behind. Shows the intensity possible from the variety, sweet-fruited, oily concentration, but maintains a freshness too, though no apparent 'bite' of acidity. Very even tempered, long, fine-feeling for the variety. If you are into gewurz, this is a very good example of how to do classy wine with the variety. Where's the chilli oil?" 93 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front