Mataburro Memo 2022

'This Mataburro cuvee called Memo is Laurent and Melissa’s white wine and a wonderful wine it is! Made from 100% Macabeo (Macabeu), it is saline, mineral, very energetic and with a lovely, light, lingering freshness. The vines for this wine are very old as they were planted 70 years ago and grow on clay and pebbles in Espira-de-l’Agly.

The grapes underwent a short maceration (4 days this year compared with 6 days the previous vintage) to bring out the best of this under-rated grape variety that takes well to this treatment. This year the maceration occurred in stainless steel tanks.

For those of you who are interested in the effect of climate change on vignerons in France, consider the fact that August is traditionally the month that everyone takes their vacation. They return to work at the end of August and then start preparing for the harvest.

However, this year the grapes ripened early due to the higher temperatures experienced during the summer. Laurent and Melissa were preparing to pick the Macabeu in the middle of the month, but ended up picking starting on the 5th August!

This wine has no additions, including no added sulphites, and no fining or filtration. It clocks in at only 12% alcohol (which is 0.5% higher than the previous vintage).'

 - Living Wines