Texture 101

Distinguishing Texture In Wines

Of all the 101 series, this texture pack is our most ambitious and the one we're most excited about. With three texturally distinct whites, we aim to highlight the different tactile experiences these wines offer as a result of varying winemaking practices. For instance, is it austere and crisp because it is made in stainless steel? Do they stir up the lees to give it a creamy texture? Is it grippy because of skin contact? Is the toastiness because of time in oak? The best part is you get to be the judge! Remember to compare your assessment to your tasting cards.

Tips On Winemaking and Ageing Vessels

By no means an exhaustive list, but here's a handy cheatsheet of winemaking approaches to consider! Oak Oak will also impart some textural elements to the wine, because of the micro-oxygenation that softens the wine, so wines aged in oak will appear rounder, softer and smoother. Not sure if it's oaked? New oak barrels tend to impart the most flavours these can range from vanilla, cream, butter, coconut, dill, cardamom, cinnamon, caramel... there's a whole spectrum of flavours! Oak Here, we're talking about vessels. Tanks, barrels, upturned milk vats, concrete eggs - all of these storage vessels impact how a wine tastes. Oak barrels are the choice of many winemakers, and they can completely change the texture of a wine and how it tastes. Oak will also impart some textural elements to the wine because of the micro-oxygenation that softens the wine, so wines aged in oak will appear rounder, softer and smoother. New oak barrels, in particular, tend to impart the most flavours, and older barrels are more neutral. The flavours you can pickup from wine matured in oak barrels ranges from vanilla, cream, butter, coconut, dill, cardamom, cinnamon, caramel... there's a whole spectrum of flavours! Unoaked You'll also hear the word 'unoaked', where wines are not matured in barrels but instead in tanks/vats or eggs. Stainless steel tanks are the modern standard for 'unoaked' wines because it's easier to keep clean, come in a large range of sizes and allow for the most temperature control of the fermenting grape juice. It is also the first choice for making fresh, fruity, austere styles of wines because of its anaerobic environment (no oxygen). Pure expression is the best thing about tanks like this - no oak, just fruit! Time On Lees And Lees Stirring So what are lees? Lees are naturally occurring, inactive cells that remain after fermentation and collect at the bottom of a barrel or tank of wine. Very fine particles, they don't have a huge amount of flavour but have a creamy texture. The cool thing is they can dissolve into the wine; they're so fine, but by doing so, they 'thicken' the wine, making it creamier and richer. Yum! Think of the difference between a crisp (stainless steel tank matured) Pinot Grigio and a creamy, rich Pinot Gris. Same grape, different winemaking! Skin Contact AKA Orange Wine Skin contact is nothing new; the technique is applied to rosé, reds and whites. But there's no doubt that skin-contact wines are the most unconventional practice of them all. So what do skin contact whites feel like? It helps if you imagine them as a cross between a red and a white wine, given their texture and power. The flavour profile can also tend towards a riper, more tropical kind of spectrum (dependant on the grape variety of course), but it's common to see flavours and aromas of peach, apricot and pineapple, as well as orange blossom, beeswax and honey. The aging with the skins draws out additional tannin, so imagine a white wine with a chewy tannic grip that enhances its food-friendliness.

Three Tactile Whites

1. Early Rider Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (Stainless steel matured fresh white) Aromatic and nicely crisp, this is a perfect example of a lively young white wine. Early in the evening or a little refresher after a long day, the Early Rider Sauvignon Blanc will give you everything you need. With balanced tropical fruit punch, lime tang and a tinge of sour acidity, this wine has a bit of everything. It's wrapped up with a fruity zest of pear and grapefruit. 2. Fabien Castaing 'Mon Essentiel' Sauvignon Gris 2020 (Skin contact white with grip and body) The skin contact here gives this body weight and personality! With this Mon Essentiel range Fabien Castaing makes a white and a red wine and just three barrels of each. This is 100% Sauvignon Gris, made in a skin contact style that has produced a nutty and complex beast with citrus peel, forest floor notes and a hint of spice. 3. Mada Wines Chardonnay 2022 (Oak barrel-aged Chardonnay blend with flavour and weight) Chardonnay is such an interesting grape, often delivering wines that can be bold but have tension too. This is easily the best wine with a Mada label, this super classy and frankly quite beautiful Tumbarumba Chardonnay is all about delicacy and fine lines. There's a little hint of funk and a bit of popcorn, and mealy oats on what is ultimately a very clean and refined white wine of beauty and nervy energy.