WINE REVIEW
I’m a huge lover of riper style of rosés, such as those oaked, nuanced, textural styles that can be found in Rioja. Wines such as Viña Tondonia Rosado and the more accessible José Luis Ripa’s Ripa Rosado spring to mind, but what does all this have to do with English Wine?
Enter Artelium Artefact #8 ‘Skinny Gris’. It is it a dark rosé, or an orange wine, or perhaps a bit of both? Whatever it is, it is up there with the most textural and outstanding English rosé/orange wines I’ve ever had. It’s made from Pinot Gris, as the name suggests, and it was fermented on its skins.
If the striking colour doesn’t grab your attention, then the nose will! There are deep red fruit aromas of dried cranberry, cherry and ripe strawberry, with orange and lemon peel, potpourri and winter berry hints.
The palate is pleasingly taut, with redcurrant and cranberry flavours, together with a pithy citrus and black tea tannin. There’s ripe red apple in there too, and a brisk acidity running through it all.
Don’t serve this too cold – Skinny Gris can be enjoyed as a winter rosé in front of an open fire, paired with festive fare such as charcuterie or with a Boxing Day gammon joint.
