Asara #9 The Speciality Collection Vine Dried Sauvignon Blanc 2014, good with Dianne Bibby’s Milk Tart Pancake Mille-Feuille…

Monday, 11 March, 2019
Michael Olivier Communications
This is a piece of class, love this wine. The Asara Vine Dried Sauvignon Blanc 2014 is a natural sweet wine made from the last bunch left on each vine after the grapes are harvested for The Vineyard Collection Sauvignon Blanc.

This bunch is picked late harvest and the bunches are laid out on mats for two to three weeks to further desiccate and caramelise the flavours on the side of the grapes which face the sun.

The grapes for the Asara Sun Dried Sauvignon Blanc were taken to the cellar and when tested had sugar readings of 30 degrees Balling - very sweet. The grapes were whole bunch pressed and the juice taken straight to French oak barrels for fermentation. Once the fermentation was complete, the wine was racked off its lees to retain freshness. It a then prepared for bottling.

Pour
From a 375ml bottle known as an Alsatian Flute. The label is small and simple and elegant. In the glass, it is the colour of orange blossom honey. The aromas are of syrup poached desiccated pineapple, tropical fruits, passion fruit, guava and melon. These carry on to the palate which is sappy and fresh with a golden thread of sweetness ameliorating acidity running through the generous mid palate into the aftertastes. Really special wine if you like a sweetie, give it a whirl of you don’t.

Pair
Excellent at the start of a menu with soup, perhaps a lightly curried butternut. Great partner to a smooth chicken liver or duck paté. Last week was National Milk Tart Day and the variety that appeared on the internet was amazing. In truth, I would be happy if every day was Milk Tart Day. For this series I am using recipes from Dianne Bibby. She always has a wonderful twist, lateral thinking spin to her recipes. Dianne Bibby’s Milk Tart Pancake Mille-Feuille is a dinner party grand dessert, yet easy to make, very impressing. And perfect with the Asara Vine Dried Sauvignon Blanc 2014. Click Here for her recipe.

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