Tulonio Bodegas Tierra 2022

The Rioja ‘Tulonio’ from Bodegas Tierra stands out as a refined expression of Cariñena Blanca in an orange version, crafted through an extended skin maceration. Cariñena Blanca, also known as Mazuelo Blanco and Carinyena Blanca, is a white grape variety that originated from a bud mutation of the more famous Cariñena Tinta, known in Sardinia as Carignano and in France as Carignan. Wines made from this grape are characterized by their rather full body and sustained acidity, but often have a bouquet that is not very expressive. This has led to the increasingly popular choice of vinifying it with a long contact between the must and the skins.

Bodegas Tierra ‘Tulonio’ Rioja is a 100% Mazuelo Blanco whose grapes come from the El Convento vineyard, a plot planted in the early 2000s in the Labastida area of Rioja Alavesa. The harvest is carried out by hand in 14-kilogram boxes, accompanied by a careful selection of the bunches, which are then crushed whole in oval porcelain containers. Both the alcoholic fermentation and the maturation phase take place here, with a lengthy 8-month skin maceration. After this period, the wine is finally bottled in very limited quantities.

The orange wine Rioja ‘Tulonio’ from Bodegas Tierra has an intense golden yellow color with bright orange hues. The glass reveals vivid aromas of grapefruit, macerated yellow flowers, aromatic herbs, undergrowth, and lavender, all enriched by mineral notes of limestone and light hints of wet earth. The taste is rich and flavorful, surprisingly lively, with a lovely freshness leading to a long and savory finish where the mineral sensations from the nose reappear.