Highlights: Montgomery Rondo 2018 Wales
In celebration of Welsh wine week, I opened this, from Montgomery in Powys. Rondo is an interesting cool-climate PIWI (the name used in Germany for new resistant varieties). Originally known as Gm 6494-5, its mother is the Zarya Severa which is a native Asian vine from the species Vitis ameurensis, and the father is St Laurent. It was bred in 1964 by a Czech breeder called Professor V. Kraus, who gave some seeds to the head of the Geisenheim Institute, Professor Helmut Becker. Becker realised the significance of the parentage, conferring high downy mildew resistance and good cold tolerance. This particular variety was later named Rondo. There are 19.6 hectares of this grown in the UK.
Montgomery Rondo 2018 Wales
11% alcohol. This has a lot of personality, and it’s quite delicious. It’s crunchy and bright with a blast of raspberry and cherry fruit and nice acidity. There’s a hint of creaminess here, and some spice, as well as a bit of smokiness. I love the purity and immediacy of the fruit, and the high acidity livens things up nicely. There’s a lot to like about this wine. 88/100
UK agent: Daniel Lambert
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