En Cavale - "Who Goes There?" Skin Contact California 750ml 2023
we loved their hazy Sauv Blanc and Vermentino, this is their new, legit orange wine
brighter notes of blood orange, quince, and lemon verbena with a honeyed almond, marzipan richness, all held in focus by refreshing salinity and vibrant acidity
This bottling was named after a story from John W. Campbell Jr. called “Who Goes There?” that was later made into John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece “The Thing,” about a group of scientists that settle into the long Antarctic winter with some pull-top beers, a bunch of whiskey and a strange dog that turned up at their camp chased by a helicopter that later crashed on the ice. Turns out the dog is a shape-shifting alien lifeform capable of consuming all of humanity should it escape Antarctica! Both of these adaptations reveal the anxiety and doubt that lurks just beneath the surface of nearly all human endeavors. This wine was made in the spirit of conquering anxiety and charging ahead into the darkness of the unknown.
475 cases
En Cavale 2023 Skin Ferment White Wine 'Who Goes There?' is a unique blend of 70% Sauvignon Blanc, 15% Vermentino, and 15% Albarino, all fermented on their skins for 24 days to create a rich, textured wine. The Sauvignon Blanc sees aging in acacia barrels, while Vermentino and Albarino rest in neutral French oak, lending layers of complexity. Bottled in late May 2024 with minimal intervention, this skin-contact wine bursts with notes of spring blossoms, tropical fruit, and snappy grapefruit. An expressive choice for summer sipping, it embodies the essence of carefree warm days.
The Sauvignon Blanc was harvested in early August and after fermentation was pressed to age in a mix of new and used acacia barrels. The other varietals were harvested together a few weeks later; co-fermented on skins, then everything was pressed off to neutral French oak barrels. After a few trials, the different lots were blended and a small amount of sulfur was added before everything was racked to neutral Barrels to rest for a few months prior to bottling in late March.
region: California, USA
varietal:
style: skin contact white
farming/cellar: organic,
pairing: