Xarello Macabeo Ancestral 2021
An off-dry skin-contact Macabeo with fresh citrusy stone fruit flavors, notes of wheat beer, bright acidity, light tannins and a medium finish.
Tasting Notes: Lemons, orange, sour beer, and green apples.
Pairing Suggestions: Clams with Garlic Butter & Wine, Mango Ricotta Cake, Seafood Risotto
Valencia, Spain
Type: White | Vintage: 2021 | Sulfur: Minimal | Varietal: Macabeo, Xarel-lo | Alcohol: 12.5% | Production: Organic | Style: Food Wine
Producer Profile
It doesn't get much more old school than Bodegas Cueva. Founded in 2000, yet the the original winery is from the 18th century, and not much has changed since then. Mariano Taberner knows his land intricately and in an almost mystical way translates the Mediterranean essence through his grapes. One of the first to be certified organic (by the Comité de Agricultura Ecológica de la Comunidad Valenciana) he is committed to biodiversity and the health of his vineyards. Cueva hosts a variety of 100+ year old centenary vines of Tempranillo, Bobal, and Tardana (a white grape that is used for most of the sparkling wines). All of the wines are kept naturally cool in long, undisturbed underground cellars. As a winemaker, he's known for being a bit of a magician, using unique fermentation techniques and unconventional vinification methods. Everything is bottled without filtering, fining, or sulphur additions of any kind. - Selections de la Viña
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About Natural Wine
Great question! There are a lot of definitions for natural wine with the main term you'll hear being that it has had minimal intervention. To be more specific, our definition is that the wine must first be sustainably farmed, which typically means it was organically or biodynamically farmed.
Then, in the cellar the natural winemaking process has some differences as well! The wine is typically unfined, unfiltered, and goes through spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. If you want to know more about what natural wine is, we have an entire guide under our reference section!
The short answer is that natural wine can taste like any other kind of conventional wine (we like to call these stealth natural wines) or it can taste quite a bit different, as production methods can vary and potentially be lighter, or in a style you've never had before (like orange, pet-nat or amphora).
The natural wine community is also more accepting of some qualities in wines that conventional would consider a flaw, like Brett, some oxidation, or volatile acidity. We would consider these in high amounts to also be a flaw, but in many cases a touch of these qualities can ultimately improve their flavor and texture and be happily accepted in a natural wine.
To find out more about what natural wine tastes like, check out our full blog and podcast on the topic here.
The short answer is, no! But many are. Glou-glou describes winesthat are easily chuggable, impossible to put the glass down, and seductively delicious! They tend to be young and fresh, designed to be drunk early with an average ABV of around 10%. Check out different styles or glou glou natural wine here on our site.