Not a whole lot in the way of backstory to this one, except it’s been getting good press. And everyone I talked to says ‘Stick in the fridge for a bit.’ So I took it with me on a recent visit to the country estate, and enlisted TE and MT as extra special guest commentators. It’s a fascinating blend of grapes, being both white and red, so I was looking forward to trying it, and seeing what TE and MT had to say.
In the glass
It’s very pretty, light. Cloudy. Ruby, if you want to try to give it an approved wine colour. It reminds me a bit of a rosé. ‘Cranberry juice,’ is TE’s pronouncement. ‘Very pretty cranberry juice. It’s really beautiful,’ she continues. And she continues talking about cranberry juice for quite some time, almost like a mantra.
The nose
Me, I get nothing. Even after the all cranberry commentary, I get nothing. TE, unsurprisingly, suggests it smells of cranberries. And raspberries, and a faint hint of rose. There’s a smokiness to it, TE goes on, like that of barbequed watermelon. Erm, I interject, I’ve no idea what that would smell like. I’ve never barbequed watermelon. ‘Neither have I,’ replies TE. She then shifts her description to it’s the smokiness of mezcal, rather than barbequed watermelon. That one, at least, I can relate to.
MT, who had been finishing her cocktail before joining us on the wine, claims lack of wine tasting knowledge, but adds, ‘it does smell like wine, though.’
The palate
Light. Unusual. Maybe something a bit watermelon-ish about it? Or was that influenced by our discussion? It’s bright. Cherries on the palate definitely. A nice crisp acidity, especially on the finish. It’s a long, long finish.
TE thinks it is fruity, but not in a bad way. It’s fun. There’s something unexpected about it, something you’d expect from a darker wine. I’m not really following her there, but I note it down anyway. My not quite following might be because I know it’s a blend of white and red grapes, so my expectations are rather far from heavy reds.
MT thinks it has a cloudy feel to it. Which, given it’s unfined, unfiltered and all that, isn’t a bad call.
Someone, I’m not quite sure who, looking back over my notes, but I’m pretty sure it would be TE, commented: ‘Not boring. That’s the interesting thing about it.’ That’s the sort of stunning insight that makes her an eminent zoologist, you see. .
Rating
It’s Ooh… Shiny!, with Yummy-Plus overall. When I get around to my unusual-ocity scale, it will get quite a high ranking. It’s an intriguing more-ish, very enjoyable wine.
Sustainability
Farmed organically, although not certified. Wild ferment, no fining. No added sulphites. ‘Unfettered, natural wines,’ according to them.
The technical info and such
13% ABV. Roussanne, Grenache, Viognier, Syrah. £13.99 from Cambridge Wine Merchants