Juanico Bizarra Extravaganza Orange Wine

Sunday Business Post

A most interesting yet competitively priced choice. Vineyard boss Santiago Deicas, who also owns Uruguay’s largest winemaking company Juanicó which spans some 300 hectares, was apparently inspired by beer-making practices when it came to producing this wine. It comes from Canelones, an Atlantic region famous for the country’s flagship Tannat grape. The coastal climate provides moderate temperatures in both summer and winter, creating growing conditions similar to those in Bordeaux. Made from a 50/50 blend of Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng, it has skin contact for 35 days. Then half is aged in barrels for six months, with the other half in tanks. Unfiltered (which gives it a cloudy appearance), this has distinct honeyed aromas along with juicy apple, bruised apricot, orange blossom and jasmine tea. There’s a pleasant freshly pressed apple juice quality to the fore in a wine that is dry, intensely crisp and zippy. Notes of melon, ginger and pink peppercorn feature with a tinge of bitterness on the finish that complements its flavour profile. A spiced chicken and apricot tagine would make an especially enticing pairing with this.

Cathal McBride