La Mariota I VDF 'Roc de la Vella' Blanc 2024 I Roussillon Wine
La Mariota I VDF 'Roc de la Vella' Blanc 2024 I Roussillon Wine

La Mariota, VdF 'Roc de la Vella' Blanc 2024

£32.00

Meet Roc de la Vella – the crisp, mineral white with a poet's name that breaks away from all standards.

Roussillon might not be the first place that comes to mind when looking for fresh whites. But what Cecilia and Guillermo have achieved in a short period of time is very commendable.

Named after a local fountain, it's rightly fitted for such a crystalline wine with a big limestone soul.

2024 sees a new blend of 95% Macabeu and 5% Petit Manseng, and yet it still manages to be on par with the previous vintages.

The nose is vibrant with white flowers, citrus zest and crushed stone, with a saline, almost coastal edge. The Petit Manseng adds a flicker of ripe orchard fruit and a touch of tension, while the Macabeu keeps everything precise, dry and refreshingly mineral. It finishes long, saline and bone-dry — the kind of wine that makes you reach for a second glass before you've noticed the first one's gone.

Drink it with oysters, grilled fish, goat's cheese, or a lazy lunch in the sun.

Meet Roc de la Vella – the crisp, mineral white with a poet's name that breaks away from all standards.

Roussillon might not be the first place that comes to mind when looking for fresh whites. But what Cecilia and Guillermo have achieved in a short period of time is very commendable.

Named after a local fountain, it's rightly fitted for such a crystalline wine with a big limestone soul.

2024 sees a new blend of 95% Macabeu and 5% Petit Manseng, and yet it still manages to be on par with the previous vintages.

The nose is vibrant with white flowers, citrus zest and crushed stone, with a saline, almost coastal edge. The Petit Manseng adds a flicker of ripe orchard fruit and a touch of tension, while the Macabeu keeps everything precise, dry and refreshingly mineral. It finishes long, saline and bone-dry — the kind of wine that makes you reach for a second glass before you've noticed the first one's gone.

Drink it with oysters, grilled fish, goat's cheese, or a lazy lunch in the sun.

La Mariota is a relative newcomer, situated in the village of Vingrau, one of the best terroirs in the Roussillon. Cecilia Diaz and Guillermo Campos hail from Argentina; they met while working in Spain in the early 2000s. After looking for opportunities they came to the Roussillon for the weather and to be closer to their Spanish families. In 2015 Guillermo joined the brothers at Domaine Danjou Banessy and started a winemaker course, he also worked for Cyril Fhal at Clos du Rouge Gorge. In 2017 the couple found some land to work in Vingrau and Tautavel, starting with 6 varieties planted across 1.7ha. 2019 marked the first vinification “at home” in Vingrau, they now farm 8ha, including some new plantings. From the start they have worked in an organic way, wanting to produce wines with bright fruit, structure and freshness. They vinify as naturally as possible.

Appelation: VdF Grape variety: 95% Macabeu, 5% Petit Manseng Average Age of Vines: Macabeu: 70 years old - Petit Manseng: 40 years old Vineyard/Plot Names: Vinyards in Vingrau Vineyard Surface Area: 0.65 hectares Terroir: Clay & Limestone soils Exposition: North Altitude: 200m Number of bottles produced: 2300 Natural yeasts: Yes Winemaking: Direct press Malolactic Fermentation: Yes Ageing: 18 months (12 months half in tanks & half in 400 l barrels. Additional 6 months in bottle) Fining / filtration: No Vegan: Yes SO2: 25mg total Alcohol: 12% Acidity: 3.38 g/l Residual Sugar 0 g/l Organic Certified: Vines are certified organic with one plot still in conversion