Tinto Amorio "Monje" Skin-Contact Wine 2023

"Monje" is an intriguing blend of organic French Colombard, Gewürztraminer and Albariño from Madera, Paso Robles, Potter Valley and Lodi, macerated for a modest seven days with a little bit of Zinfandel. After aging in barrels 3-4 months on lees, it was bottled on the full moon. Passionfruit, red grapefruit, and a hint of pine resin open to blood orange on the palate, with an ocean sea breeze finish. It's an ideal balance of savory and heady, fruited ebullience. Certified organic, native fermentation, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan. Each bottle was waxed by hand.

Tinto Amorio is having a bit of a moment. Founded by Anish Patel in Los Angeles in 2016, the company has really started to draw attention from those looking for fun and interesting, bright natural wines. Once an investment banker, Anish decided to switch to wine while recovering from a serious car accident and reconsidering his life trajectory. That decision has led, now several years later, to a lineup of really fresh and interesting wines. He and his team use grapes that are farmed organically or biodynamically, they ferment only with indigenous yeasts, and the only additive is a minimal amount of sulfur at bottling.