The Juice Asylum Lost Under Heaven 2024

The Juice Asylum Lost Under Heaven 2024

I recommend this Tuscan white grenache for its free approach and singular story: only a few bunches survived a violent hailstorm that had nearly destroyed the harvest. From this small survivor was born an orange wine aged in amphorae, designed to let the grape and its place of origin express themselves without superfluous corrections. It does not promise a smooth, predictable profile, but a careful exploration of the living.

A free white grenache, rooted in Tuscany

At the helm of The Juice Asylum, in Tuscany, Alessio Guidi champions a philosophy of curiosity and experimentation. The cellar is conceived as a space where the juice can evolve freely, with deep respect for nature and the individuality of the grapes. Lost Under Heaven — which could be translated as "lost under the sky" — carries in its name the memory of this harvest struck by hail. The 2024 vintage is made from Garnacha Blanca, that is to say white grenache, grown on clay and limestone soils. The vines were five years old at the time described by the source.

The harvest is done by hand, at optimal ripeness. In the cellar, whole bunches undergo a partial carbonic maceration of about ten days, before the must is separated from the skins. Fermentation starts spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts, then the wine spends six months in clay amphorae. It is bottled without fining or filtration, with a very low dose of sulfur. The approach is certified biodynamic; the wine is also organic and vegan.

The style is that of an orange wine, but the available information does not give a precise description of its color, aromas or flavors: I prefer not to invent one. The tasting reference provided places it at an aromatic level of 6 out of 9 and a medium body, at 5 out of 9. The partial maceration of whole bunches and the clay aging describe its method, without allowing us to claim particular notes. If you like wines of character whose personality reveals itself in the glass rather than through a very talkative sheet, this bottle may well spark your curiosity.

At the table, between freshness and spice

I easily picture it alongside white fish, vegetables or white meats, pairings suggested for this wine, but also with sushi or spicy dishes. Serve it at a meal where you take time to exchange impressions: its story of a surviving harvest and its amphora aging already give plenty to talk about. If you want to taste an organic, vegan Tuscan white grenache crafted without trying to smooth away its rough edges, Lost Under Heaven 2024 deserves a place at your table.