Unico Zelo Esoterico White Blend 2024 750ml

“Wild, aromatic skin contact white with apricot, citrus peel, ginger and lively tannin.”

Unico Zelo Esoterico is one of those wines that refuses to sit neatly in a box, which is probably a large part of the appeal.

It sits somewhere between white and orange wine, with apricot, candied citrus, ginger, florals and a lightly herbal edge all coming through. The palate is dry, textural and lively, with gentle skin tannin and bright acidity giving it plenty of energy.

This is a great bottle for anyone curious about orange wine but not looking to jump straight into something too challenging. It has plenty of personality, but it is still built around drinkability, which Unico Zelo themselves make very clear.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Apricot, candied citrus, florals, ginger and light honeyed notes.

Palate: Dry and textural with citrus peel, stone fruit, gentle spice and lively acidity.

Finish: Fresh and slightly grippy with lingering orange peel, ginger and botanical notes.

Serving Suggestions

Excellent with spicy Thai or Japanese dishes, grilled prawns, charred vegetables and aromatic salads.

It also works well with charcuterie, soft cheeses and anything with a little spice, where the texture and bright acidity really come into their own. Earlier vintages have shown exactly this sort of pairing versatility.

About The Winery

Unico Zelo was founded by Brendan and Laura Carter with a focus on varieties and regions that suit Australia’s warmer, drier conditions.

Esoterico has become one of their cult wines because it embraces texture, aroma and a little unpredictability rather than trying to be squeaky clean and conventional. The blend typically brings together aromatic varieties such as Zibibbo, Gewürztraminer, Moscato Giallo and Greco, sourced from the Riverland and Clare Valley.

It is basically the bottle for people who find perfectly sensible white wine a little too sensible.

Cellaring Potential

Best enjoyed young for its freshness, aromatics and vibrant texture.

This is not really a wine to forget at the back of the cellar. Its appeal is the combination of bright fruit, spice and energetic skin contact character.

Details

Producer: Unico Zelo
Vintage: 2024
Style: Skin Contact White, Orange Wine
Region: South Australia
Bottle Size: 750ml
Wine Sweetness: Dry
Wine Body: Light to Medium Bodied
Key Flavours: Apricot, Candied Citrus, Ginger, Florals, Orange Peel, Botanical Notes