A dramatic and rewarding amphora wine from Kent
The “Naughty Hare” Ortega is the UK’s first amphora wine. “Who cares?” I hear you cry. “Isn’t this fad already past its prime?” To be frank, I don’t care what a wine is fermented in if it tastes this good, but if the flavour is in some way derived from the historic terracotta vessel then it is clearly a matter of interest.
Aside from being the finest Ortega I have ever tasted, this wine is blessed with epic purity and floral tones that summon up the perfume of the prettiest bridal bouquets at your favourite weddings. It is exquisitely balanced, with hints of tropical fruit, yearning to be set free, but kept quietly under control by the pin-sharp acidity. It is a dramatic and extremely rewarding wine.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
At only 12.5% alcohol, it manages to summon up these heavenly and yet demure flavours without trying too hard. The terracotta amphoras are sourced from an artisan potter near Florence who works with the likes of Château Lafite and also Champagne Jacques Selosse.
Westwell’s own description for what these curious 500-litre jugs do to the wine is that the yeast lees “stay in constant turmoil during fermentation, adding richness, texture and breadth”. The amphoras allow the smallest proportion of air to enter –somewhere between stainless steel tanks and barrels. So they are responsible for the genius of this wine after all. I guarantee you will love it!
2016 Westwell Wines, Ortega Amphora, Kent, England £14.95, WestwellWines.com
Matthew Jukes is a winner of the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year (MatthewJukes.com).
This article was originally published in MoneyWeek
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Wolf Hall: the Mirror and the Light' season two – still a "crown jewel"
The Week Recommends Damian Lewis and Mark Rylance star in this 'superlative' Tudor drama on BBC One
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Election Day. Finally.'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Incendiary device plot: Russia's 'rehearsals' for attacks on transatlantic flights
The Explainer Security officials warn of widespread Moscow-backed 'sabotage campaign' in retaliation for continued Western support for Ukraine
By The Week UK Published
-
Mulled white wine: a 'quirky' Christmas hit?
The Week Recommends Retailers are hoping to tempt shoppers with a 'lighter' version of the classic festive tipple
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
The myth of 'healthy' moderate drinking
Under The Radar The shaky logic that a daily tipple can lengthen your life has been a 'propaganda coup for the alcohol industry'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Put down the glass, Napa and Sonoma. This is where you should drink wine in California.
In Depth Paso Robles is a gem among the oaks
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Jurassic Park: how dinosaurs put wine on your table
Under The Radar The disappearance of the 'lumbering beasts' allowed the grape to 'take over the world'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Orange wines to try this summer
The Week Recommends These amber-hued wines pair perfectly with bold dishes
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
Best English wines
The Week Recommends Celebrate a homegrown success story with our pick of the best still and sparkling wines
By Adrienne Wyper Published
-
Guide to Temecula Valley, California
The Week Recommends Temecula Valley offers a feast for the senses with dozens of wineries to visit and menus to explore
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Ca’ del Bosco: a winery with traditional values and vivacious design
Under the Radar Italian brand is adding extra sparkle to the international wine scene
By Kaye O'Doherty Published