Wangolina is at the bottom of the Limestone Coast, down between Robe and Kingston. The Goode family have been part of the region for the better part of 100 years, growing cattle and sheep. In the 90's they planted out some of the space with Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, adding Pinot Gris and Gruner Veltliner later.
Anita Goode oversees the operation, and makes the wine, and this 2020 GruVee ( check out this post for the nickname), is a little ripper. The region is not huge as far as winemaking goes and there are only a couple of vineyards around Mt Benson where Wangolina grow and make their wine.
We picked this bottle up at the newish Purvis Wine store, next door to their beer haven on Bridge Road in Richmond, Melbourne. I had been looking for a Gruner from a different region, just to look at characteristics and what nuances I'd find. Gruner is normally savoury, with celery and white pepper notes, and crisp acidity. This is, for want of a better term, more riesling like with lime and blood orange nose, honeysuckle and jasmine blossom, and a palate which veers more toward stone fruit - nectarine, white peach and a ginger nut biscuit kind of sweetness.
The acidity is certainly there but is more elegant and refined, and so allows the nuances of this clone to really stand out. There is a flinty minerality and some residual sweetness in the finish. Texturally superb with a very linear racy crunch, more hints of citrus and spice at the end, this is a rather unique GV for us. I'm still looking for white pepper and celery but there is little to be found.
This makes me love GV even more and I am loving some of these little finds to broaden out my appreciation of this grape. It also one I expect fellow GV advocates will thoroughly enjoy.
RRP $28 at a little independent or online
SA | 2020 | Limestone Coast | 13% ABV