Terra Vermella 2018

Wine Description for Terra Vermella 2018 by Familia Nin Ortiz

Colour & Appearance

Radiant golden yellow with youthful green highlights.

Nose

On the nose, this white wine is reminiscent of great Burgundies and expressive Loire Sauvignons. A smoky flinty aroma meets a sea of wild herbs, fresh grapefruit, salted almonds and maritime oyster shell. The olfactory impression evokes a stormy sea breeze on a rocky coastline.

Palate

On the palate, it reveals a fascinating combination of juicy yellow fruit and a subtly smoky note. The vibrant acidity lends the wine immense coolness, purism and playful power. Despite the warm vintage, it presents itself with a slender 12.0% ABV, immensely lively and dense.

Terroir & Origin

The wine originates from a one-hectare, 37-year-old vineyard in Pla de Manlleu (Alt-Penedès), farmed by Jaume Nin Llort. The vines grow at an altitude of 550 metres on the eponymous red clay soil (Terra Vermella). Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz, renowned for their strictly biodynamic approach using mules and manual labour on the steep slopes of Priorat, demonstrate once again their intuition for unique terroirs.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pressed from Parellada Montonegra, an extremely rare, pink-skinned grape mutation. After crushing and a 24-hour maceration period, gentle pressing took place. Spontaneous fermentation and ageing were carried out in 300-litre barrels, imparting the wine with its light colour and structure.

Food Pairings

Highly recommended with salt-crusted kohlrabi with olive oil and truffle, grilled red mullet with fennel cream, orange and aniseed or veal wrapped in Ibérico ham, smoked, served with tarragon sauce and cauliflower-lemon cream. Decanting is essential!

Particularities

As a member of the prestigious producer association La Renaissance des Appellations, the estate is dedicated to authentic natural wines. This wine marks the revival of an almost forgotten grape variety mutation – a delicate monument to Catalan viticultural culture.