Terra 00 Orange aShut 2022

Terra 00 is the project of Joan Ramon Bada and Josep Arrufat in the heart of the D.O. Terra Alta in southern Catalonia, working with ancient winemaking traditions and minimal intervention. Orange aShut is made from Garnacha Blanca, the regional white grape, grown on calcareous soils farmed organically and biodynamically. Terra Alta is hot and dry, with chalky limestone soils that hold what little water there is and lend the wines a saline cut. The grape ripens fully here, reaching 13.5 percent while keeping acidity through the cool nights. The wine ferments and ages for eight months on its skins in clay amphorae. That extended maceration extracts firm phenolics and tannin, while the porous clay allows gentle oxidation without oak, building a savoury, structured character. The colour is deep amber, with a nose of dried apricot, orange marmalade and dried herbs. The palate is dry and grippy, with an almondy, earthy depth and a saline, mineral finish drawn from the limestone. Organic and vegan, made with little added sulphur. Serve at 13 to 15 degrees in a wide glass, with roast pork, poultry or hard cheese.