Fabio Coullet Orange Peels 2023

Bodegas Fabio Coullet farms in the Sierras de Malaga in Andalusia, working Moscatel de Alejandria, also called Muscat of Alexandria, an ancient aromatic grape that brings strong floral and orange-blossom perfume. Orange Peels is made as an orange wine by fermenting the grapes on their skins, which extracts tannin, colour and phenolics and intensifies the already aromatic Muscat character, turning the wine deep amber. It then matures twelve months in clay amphorae, a long ageing in which the porous walls allow slow oxygen exchange that softens the tannin and adds nutty, dried-fruit depth without any oak flavour. Made naturally, with native yeasts and minimal sulphur, the wine is dry despite the aromatic grape, savoury and grippy. The colour is deep amber. The nose is forward, showing orange marmalade, dried apricot and white flowers, with beeswax and a honeyed edge. The palate is dry and structured, the skin tannin firm and the finish long, closing on orange peel and almond. Serve at 12 to 14 degrees in a broad glass. It suits roast pork, chicken and hard cheese.