Country: France Region: Languedoc

Varietal: Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, and Muscat

Colour: Orange Style: Dry

Producer: Gerard Bertrand

Description:

Just as a ros is made by letting fermenting red wine sit on the skins for a brief, rather than extended, time (even red wine grape juice is clear), an orange wine, like this one, rests on the skins and stems of the white wine grapes for a period of time. (The first orange wines were created 4500 years ago in Georgia. Everything old is new again.)

This wine is a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Grenache Blanc, 25% Viognier, 10% Muscat, and 5% Gewurztraminer. The first thing you notice is: its orange! Still a rare sight on the wine shelf. There is a light suggestion of oranges on the nose, which is otherwise quite subtle. The palate features a bit more orange, plus grapefruit and just the right amount of acidity. In the Old World style, the fruit is recessive. The wine is quite dry, and ends in a fairly long finish.

Food Matches: Risottos / Duck / Turkey / Lamb