2016 Ruggabellus Solumodo
Eden Valley, SA
The most complex and powerful of Abel Gibson's remarkable orange wines. This is a truly unique Australian wine drinking experience.
$44.00
Out of Stock
It’s the full textural experience here.
Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
About The Wine
Solumodo is the most striking and perhaps most ambitious of Abel Gibson's ethereal skin contact white wines.
A blend of white grapes with Semillon as the focal point, this is where Abel's attention to detail in his craft really shines.
This wine spent over 200 days on skins as an average, with the Semillon component stretching out to a year before pressing. The intensity and clarity that has come with this long and slow approach from Gibson is nothing short of remarkable.
Mike Bennie awarded the 2016 vintage 96+ points, dubbing it "fine wine with a punky ethos."
If you are seeking the finest amber wines in the world, this is surely among them.
About Ruggabellus
Ruggabellus - meaning 'rugged beauty' - is one of the breakaway producers of the much written about 'New Barossa' movement.
A deep connection to the land of the Barossa Valley underpins Abel Gibson's winery. Raised amongst the vines of the Barossa, the cellars of Penfolds and Rockford, with the guidance of local wine legends such as Charlie Melton and his father Rob Gibson, Abel has carved a unique path for his brand.
Ruggabellus focuses on sensitive blends of old vine Syrah, Mataro, Grenache and Cinsault from great old vineyards with freshness and vitality always the key. Oak is never new. Additions are minimal.
The 'whites' are some of the country's finest examples of skin contact 'amber' wines. The variations on Riesling, Muscat and Semillon that are entirely world class. These are rare and truly authentic Australian wines.
Barossa Valey, SA
From The Producer
We have purchased small parcels of fruit from carefully selected vineyards. They range from 220m to 510m elevation and crucially cover a diversity of soil types. We are now the proud custodians of a beautiful old-vine vineyard at 480-510m elevation including Riesling, Semillon, Muscat rouge au petit grains and Syrah. It is beginning to provide us with valuable parcels of fruit.
Blend : Semillon (68%), Riesling (28%), Muscat (4%)
ABV : 13.50%
Closure : Screw cap
Drink Until : 2030
Bottle Size : 750ml
Critic Reviews
"The ‘dark orange’ wine in the trio of Ruggabellus’ orange wines, alongside Quomodo and Sallio. This is 68% semillon, 28% riesling, 4% muscat with an average of 236 days on skins, though the semillon component sees a full year of skin maceration. The wine hits the market a full two and a half years after harvest. Remarkable patience offset against a culture of impatience and ready to drink mentality in some of the avant garde sects of Australian wine. It’s the full textural experience here. It deserves cellaring or time in decanter, and then some. Old vines, low yields, careful selection of fruit underpin the winemaking story.Chewy, chalky, powdery texture blast across the palate with mature citrus flavours, dried apple, ginger tea and chamomile characters reverberating between bouquet and palate. While sniffs on the wine parlay complexity, savouriness, ‘tonic’ and non-fruit character, the palate convinces you both can co-exist. It’s mouth-watering, tasty in the way any detailed wine can be, exceptionally long, speaking of fine wine with a punky ethos. Hello Vivienne Westwood. The thing is, the more you spend time with the wine, the more you realise you’re drinking a wine in Acts – a wonderful thing too. Superb wine made from white grapes." - Mike Bennie (The Wine Front)
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