2020 ESOTERICO, Unico Zelo. South Australia

Muscat, Bianco D’Alessano and Riesling

Unico Zelo is a concept created in 2014 by Brendan and Laura Carter, two winemakers based in the Adelaide Hills. Their aim is to produce “Italian-inspired, textural and site-expressive wines” and “Australian examples of Mediterranean varieties in an approachable and jovial fashion.”
Their notes on this wine:
“Crafting a pinpoint precise, squeaky clean wine is one of the most boring things we could possibly think of. We prefer embracing your inner creative, and searching for more radical experiences. This has become one of our most cult-followed wines since we began. It’s not exactly white wine, nor red – many call it Amber wine…but we just call it Esoterico. We make no additions of any kind – save for sulphur when we bottle the wine. There is no fining or filtration involved, with the wine allowed to clarify by gravity alone – resulting in a slight haze and sediment. This is one of the most enjoyable wines to craft, as there was no preconceived idea of what it must taste like – the chief driver is pure drinkability – a ‘scrumptious’ quality – mouthwatering acidity and ‘say hello!’ tannins. It’s a Bohemian at heart.”