# La Sorga Tradition (2023)

- **Producer:** La Sorga
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Muscat d'Alexandrie
- **Region:** Languedoc-Roussillon, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 11.5%
- **Average price:** €27
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 12–14 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** cherry, blackcurrant, orange, mint, smoke

## About this wine

La Sorga was founded in 2008 by natural wine iconoclast Antony Tortul in Béziers, Languedoc. Operating as a natural négociant, Tortul works with over 40 distinct organic and biodynamic sites across southern France, sourcing strictly low-yielding historic vines. Tradition is a micro-cuvée that blends dark red grapes with aromatic white varieties harvested from distinct terroirs ranging from limestone sands in Carcassonne to clay-limestone soils near Marseillan.

## Interesting facts

- Co-ferments 50% red Merlot with 50% aromatic white varieties like Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat.
- Founder Antony Tortul co-created the iconic global Brutal!!! natural wine label movement.
- The Merlot vines used for this cuvée are over 47 years old, grown on limestone sands.

## Food pairing

The high acidity and bright, fresh red-fruit character of this light-bodied red blend cut through rich fats in pork and duck. The soft, gentle skin-contact tannins harmonise with savory mushrooms and cured meats without clashing or creating metallic bitterness.

## Wine making process

Crafted via a creative three-phase maceration combining direct-pressed juice, manually destemmed grapes, and selected whole clusters. The fruit undergoes spontaneous co-fermentation with native yeasts for 42 days in vat without temperature control. The wine is aged for 8 months in tank and stoneware vessels, then bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with zero added sulfites.