Familia Nin Ortiz | Catalonia | Terra Vermella | 2018 | 750ml

Description

Product description for Familia Nin Ortiz Terra Vermella 2018

Information about the wine

Among the Cava varieties, it is far less well known than Macabeo – also known as Viura – or Xarel.lo, which has also been used to produce remarkable still wines for some time. However, Parellada, with its high acidity and moderate alcohol content, is of great importance for Cava. It is hardly known that Parellada comes in different versions. But Ester and Carles have become specialists in the lesser-known Catalan varieties. They have already revived the extremely rare Carignan Blanc. This is Parellada Montonegra, a pink mutation of Parellada, which the two discovered in a one-hectare vineyard at an altitude of 550 meters – the same place where Selma is produced, i.e. in the Alt Penedès in the Pla de Manlleu. The vineyard is now 37 years old and is cultivated by its owner, Jaume Nin Llort – Nin… Ester’s family. The wine is named after the red (vermella) clay soil (terra). The wine was essentially matured in the same way as the other white wines: crushing, letting it stand for 24 hours, then slowly pressing, spontaneous fermentation in 300-liter barrels, and then maturing in those same barrels. Despite the quite warm vintage, the result is a wine with just 12% ABV and 6.5 g of acidity at a pH of 2.8. And despite the discoloured grape skins and the time spent standing, this is a light wine.

Colour

Brilliant golden yellow with youthful green reflections.

Nose

Great Burgundies with their ignition pad aromas send their regards, as do the mineral-rich great Sauvignon Blancs of this world. In addition to the fireworks that this wine sets off on the nose, there is a sea of wild herbs and the scent of grapefruit, salted almonds, oyster shells and the sea that hits the stony coast, as well as the salty film that settles on the skin and palate when you stand against the stormy breeze. A wine that is not often encountered with such a pure, convincing and fascinatingly intense aroma and that triggers pure joy!

Palate

Fascination is also what the 2018 Terra de Vermella catapults onto the tongue. Juicy yellow fruit combines with smoky notes and lively acidity. Purism: coolness, liveliness and power, all captured and bottled. What a fine, playful wine, and at such a spectacular price, that Ester and Carles have crafted here. Bravo! Be sure to decant and drink it from large glasses, not too cold!

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Keywords: Familia Nin Ortiz Terra Vermella 2018 Catalonia Spain

Wine Advocate

Score: 94

The white from Parellada Montonega 2018 Terra Vermella, comes from a special strain of Parellada that is a specialty of Pla de Manlleu, where there’s an association of growers called +500, as they grow their grapes at 500+ meters in altitude. This has notes of chamomile, dry flowers, pollen and spice. They sell the wines some three years after the harvest and think of them as wines for the long haul. The palate has some honeyed flavors that reminded me of the notes of some Chenin Blanc. It matured in 300-liter oak barrel for eight months and then it’s bottled. It has moderate alcohol and very good freshness. It comes from a vineyard called San Miquel. 2,805 bottles produced.
Luis Gutiérrez

Producer website: https://familianinortiz.com/