Highlights: two affordable orange wines from Bertrand and Cramele Recas
Tried these two orange wines side by side. It’s interesting to see this category of skin-fermented whites (often called orange or amber wines) entering the mainstream. Interestingly both are organic, and the Romanian wine actually puts ‘natural’ on the label. A version of this wine was available in Asda a couple of years ago at £6.99.
Gérard Bertrand Orange Gold 2021 Vin de France
13% alcohol. Beautifully packaged in a clear glass bottle with fine decorative ridges in the bottom. It’s a blend of Chardonnay, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Mauzac, Muscat and Clairette, given a semi-carbonic whole bunch maceration for 10-15 days with pumping over. This is very fresh and fine with peach, pear and apricot aromatics, as well as some spicy notes. In the mouth there’s some grainy structure as well as freshness and some nice acidity. Beautifully poised with some floral notes and nice weight on the palate. 92/100
Cramele Recas Orange Natural Wine 2022 Romania
12.5% alcohol. Nicely packaged although the producing country is hidden a bit and doesn’t appear on the front label. Lovely aromatics of orange peel, apricot, pear and lemon. Bright, fruity and zesty with lovely balance and a little bit of structure. Fruity, fine and delicious with nice purity. 91/100
See also: can big companies make natural wine?
