Spinifex Solana NV Fourth Cuvée

Spinifex Solana Fourth Cuvée is a multi-vintage white, barrel-aged outdoors in a modified solera.

The solera was started in 2005 and lives in old barriques kept outside in the weather, hence the name, meaning under the sun. Each year Pete Schell tops the barrels with white parcels that would otherwise have gone into his Lola blend, so the composition mirrors that wine: Ugni Blanc, Semillon, Clairette, Viognier and Roussanne from the Barossa and Eden valleys. Years of slow oxidative ageing under sun and temperature swings push it somewhere between Amontillado and Vin Jaune, though nothing is fortified and the alcohol stays low. This is the fourth bottling drawn from the system.

Nutty and saline, with citrus peel and ripe stone fruit carried on remarkable purity. Serve it lightly chilled at 12 degrees, in a decent white glass. Drink it as you would a dry sherry, with almonds, jamón, anchovies or aged Manchego.