You might have heard of Olla Blanc by Matassa?
South African Tom Lubbe of Matassa needs little introduction, other than being a strong figurehead of the French Natural Wine scene for the past two decades, and what’s impressive about his bottlings is just how much there is such a wide range to his styles.
His Matassa Rouge and Matassa Blanc are his flagship wines, perhaps more classic and expected in style, whilst still wild and vibrant.
And then there are his more unusual experimental bottles like his Brutal Orange, El Carner, Tattouine and here, his Olla Blanc .
How is Olla Blanc made? Olla Blanc 2023 by Tom Lubbe of Matassa is a lively skin-contact white wine from the sun-drenched hills of Roussillon in the far South of France, close to the Spanish border. The blend combines Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains with Macabeu, bringing together aromatic intensity with a more savoury Mediterranean edge.
The grapes are grown on limestone-rich soils around Calce, where cooling winds from the Pyrenees help retain freshness despite the warm climate. Harvested by hand, the fruit undergoes around 10-12 days of whole-bunch skin maceration, giving the wine its hazy golden colour, gentle tannic grip and vibrant texture. After pressing, the wine rests in concrete tanks to preserve purity and energy before being bottled unfiltered and without added sulphur. Alcohol is kept remarkably low at just 10%, making this an especially refreshing take on orange wine.
Olla Blanc tasting notes Whilst every vintage of Olla Blanc has its own personality, the 2023 stays true to the wine’s reputation for drinkability and brightness. Expect plenty of juicy stone fruit and tropical notes - think peach, apricot and passionfruit, alongside citrus peel, fresh herbs and a lightly floral Muscat lift. There’s a subtle bitterness and savoury grip from the skins that keeps everything balanced and dangerously easy to return to.
A perfect bottle for warm evenings, spicy food, grilled vegetables or simply drinking slightly chilled in the sun
Interview with Matassa winemaker Tom Lubbe We caught up with winemaker Tom Lubbe to discuss the way he works his wines and his philosophy on a matter of topics. Check it out below and subscribe on Youtube for more winemaker videos like this.
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