La Mariota, Orange Tacsum 2022
Tacsum is going for sure to be a benchmak in the orange wine world. The first reaction we noticed while sampling Tacsum is a huge smile. What does Tacsum mean? Just read it backwards… A blend of two different Muscat grapes: Petits Grains and Alexandrie, the former ripens early in August and the later follows mid September. Two different personalities, Petit Grains is punchy, racy and etheral, Alexandrie brings floral and gracefulness. Both are fully fermented in whole bunch for twelve days and matured for a year in stainless steel tank and a further 6 month in botlle. While the nose is charmingly open with orange and clementine blossom, spices and herbs. The palate follows as a really serious wine, with gentle bitterness and tannins. We can drink not just a glass but the full bottle in a flash.
17.5/20
‘Bright, cloudy orange and smelling of orange blossom (and I'm pretty sure this is not power of suggestion – I went outside to check by burying my nose in our choisya bush, which is still in bloom). Quite possibly one of the most delicious, refined, elegant and sapid orange wines I've ever tasted. It's a gingery, spicy helix of long, almost-invisible tannins: fragrant with turmeric, saffron and white pepper; drenched in bitter-orange juices, kumquat and quince. It has vermouth-like aromatics, tingling with orange peel, bitter herbs, minty coolth and chilli heat. It's a glorious wine that became dangerously addictive when sipped with cheese sablés!’ Drink 2024 - 2027 (Tamlyn Currin of Jancisrobinson.com)
Tacsum is going for sure to be a benchmak in the orange wine world. The first reaction we noticed while sampling Tacsum is a huge smile. What does Tacsum mean? Just read it backwards… A blend of two different Muscat grapes: Petits Grains and Alexandrie, the former ripens early in August and the later follows mid September. Two different personalities, Petit Grains is punchy, racy and etheral, Alexandrie brings floral and gracefulness. Both are fully fermented in whole bunch for twelve days and matured for a year in stainless steel tank and a further 6 month in botlle. While the nose is charmingly open with orange and clementine blossom, spices and herbs. The palate follows as a really serious wine, with gentle bitterness and tannins. We can drink not just a glass but the full bottle in a flash.
17.5/20
‘Bright, cloudy orange and smelling of orange blossom (and I'm pretty sure this is not power of suggestion – I went outside to check by burying my nose in our choisya bush, which is still in bloom). Quite possibly one of the most delicious, refined, elegant and sapid orange wines I've ever tasted. It's a gingery, spicy helix of long, almost-invisible tannins: fragrant with turmeric, saffron and white pepper; drenched in bitter-orange juices, kumquat and quince. It has vermouth-like aromatics, tingling with orange peel, bitter herbs, minty coolth and chilli heat. It's a glorious wine that became dangerously addictive when sipped with cheese sablés!’ Drink 2024 - 2027 (Tamlyn Currin of Jancisrobinson.com)
Tacsum is going for sure to be a benchmak in the orange wine world. The first reaction we noticed while sampling Tacsum is a huge smile. What does Tacsum mean? Just read it backwards… A blend of two different Muscat grapes: Petits Grains and Alexandrie, the former ripens early in August and the later follows mid September. Two different personalities, Petit Grains is punchy, racy and etheral, Alexandrie brings floral and gracefulness. Both are fully fermented in whole bunch for twelve days and matured for a year in stainless steel tank and a further 6 month in botlle. While the nose is charmingly open with orange and clementine blossom, spices and herbs. The palate follows as a really serious wine, with gentle bitterness and tannins. We can drink not just a glass but the full bottle in a flash.
17.5/20
‘Bright, cloudy orange and smelling of orange blossom (and I'm pretty sure this is not power of suggestion – I went outside to check by burying my nose in our choisya bush, which is still in bloom). Quite possibly one of the most delicious, refined, elegant and sapid orange wines I've ever tasted. It's a gingery, spicy helix of long, almost-invisible tannins: fragrant with turmeric, saffron and white pepper; drenched in bitter-orange juices, kumquat and quince. It has vermouth-like aromatics, tingling with orange peel, bitter herbs, minty coolth and chilli heat. It's a glorious wine that became dangerously addictive when sipped with cheese sablés!’ Drink 2024 - 2027 (Tamlyn Currin of Jancisrobinson.com)
La Mariota is a relative newcomer, situated in the village of Vingrau, one of the best terroirs in the Roussillon. Cecilia Diaz and Guillermo Campos hail from Argentina; they met while working in Spain in the early 2000s. After looking for opportunities they came to the Roussillon for the weather and to be closer to their Spanish families. In 2015 Guillermo joined the brothers at Domaine Danjou Banessy and started a winemaker course, he also worked for Cyril Fhal at Clos du Rouge Gorge. In 2017 the couple found some land to work in Vingrau and Tautavel, starting with 6 varieties planted across 1.7ha. 2019 marked the first vinification “at home” in Vingrau, they now farm 8ha, including some new plantings. From the start they have worked in an organic way, wanting to produce wines with bright fruit, structure and freshness. They vinify as naturally as possible.
Grape Varieties: 50% Muscat Petit Grain and 50% Muscat d'Alexandria Average Age of Vines: 40 year old vines Terroir: Clay, limestone and schist marl soil Winemaking: 12 days maceration, whole clusters, spontaneous fermentation Ageing: 18 months total, 12 months in tank and 6 months in bottle
