Taronja de Gris, Orange wine 2021
- Retail
- £25.00
- Member
- £20.00
- Case
- £150.00
- Case (Member)
- £120.00
- Varieties
- Grenache Gris, Muscat, Viognier
- Vintage
- 2021
- Country
- France
- Region
- Roussillon
- Alcohol
- 14.28%
- Bottle Size
- 750ml
- Drinking Window
- 2022 - 2025
- Description
- This is the fifth vintage of our ‘orange’ wine, made by fermenting grapes usually destined for white wine, with their skins (and a few of their stalks), the same way we’d make a red wine. This process means that the wine picks up an amber/coppery colour from the skins (Grenache Gris grapes are actually slightly pink), as well as a considerable amount of fresh, peppery tannins.
- Eyes
- A coppery-pink colour.
- Nose
- Eyes closed, and it is hard to know if you'd place this as a white or a red - the aromas are more delicate and perfumed than a typical red, with notes of rose petals, orange peel, rose-hip syrup, and ginger.
- Mouth
- Citrus peel is evident on the palate too, and there's definitely a refreshing tannic grip and a twist of bitterness remniscent of a good negroni. Yet the ripeness and generosity of fruit is what leaves a lasting impression, with rolling waves of flavour that you'd never normally find in a white wine made from these grapes.
- Body
- full
- Winemaking notes
- The fermentation of the Grenache Gris was carried out in barrel, mostly with de-stemmed grapes. Fermentation in open top 500L barrels. Maceration on skins for 2 weeks after fermentation. Fermentation of the Muscat and Viognier in four open top barrels. Maceration on skins and stalks for 1 week after fermentation. The wine is protected from oxidation with dry ice. Aging in barrels for five months. Blending is made just before bottling, with light filtration.
- Growing Conditions
- Parcels of low-yielding, old vine Grenache Gris, and some Muscat and Viognier, were left to ripen a little more than normal, and then picked when the flavour development was optimal, and the skins and stems were fully ripe.
Reviews
Foodism.co.uk
https://foodism.co.uk/what-to-buy/wine-christmas-gift-guide-2024/November 30, 2024
You might think that the candy-coloured, tie-dyed label on the Domaine Lafage Taronja de Gris gives hippy vibes, and you’d probably be correct, but far from being the go-to for the great unwashed, the wine comes from a Roussillon producer with a proud Catalan lineage and delves deep into heritage and technique. Made in tandem with British winemaker and Master of Wine Justin Howard-Sneyd, the Taronja – which derives its name from the Catalan word for orange – is a gallant, bold blend of old-vine grenache gris, grenache blanc and a good smattering of muscat and viognier. Right on, man.
Lela London - www.forbes.com
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lelalondon/2024/04/19/top-10-orange-wines/April 19, 2024
An unusual wine for the region, blending old vine Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, as well as a bit of Muscat and Viognier. Naturally, lots of flavour results, with key notes of orange peel, white pepper, ginger, melon and citrus fruit, supported by light, dry tannins and refreshing acidity.