Òrbita Venus Macabeu Trepat 2023

Òrbita Venus is the experimental label of René Barbier Meyer, son of one of the founders of modern Priorat, made with help from the Conca de Barberà wineries Succés Vinícola and Carlania. This rosé blends Macabeo and Trepat, two Catalan grapes, and is given an unusual treatment: eight months under a veil of flor, the layer of yeast that forms on the surface of the wine in barrel. That flor shields the wine from full oxidation while feeding on it, converting the texture and adding a yeasty, nutty, savoury depth quite distinct from a standard fresh rosé. The grapes come from Mediterranean Catalonia, and the natural winemaking keeps additions to a minimum. The result is a pale, faintly amber-tinged pink, with red berry and citrus fruit overlaid by almond, a saline tang and a clear savoury, nutty character from the flor. The palate is dry and taut, the fruit cut by sharp acidity and finished with a salty, almost Sherry-like grip. This is a distinctive, food-driven rosé for the curious drinker. Serve well chilled at 9 to 11 degrees with seafood, cured meats and nutty cheeses.