The Juice Asylum Il Terzo Grado 2023

Il Terzo Grado 2023, a free red from Tuscany

With Il Terzo Grado, The Juice Asylum favors a lightly made-up expression of wine, where several Tuscan grape varieties meet without erasing their diversity. I recommend it to those who enjoy light, fruity reds shaped by measured intervention in the cellar, rather than by heavy extraction or pronounced aging.

A Tuscan project between nature and experimentation

The Juice Asylum estate is the personal project of Alessio Guidi, a winemaker based in Tuscany, launched in 2016. The name evokes a shelter, a form of protection: an idea that accompanies his pursuit of viticulture and winemaking that respect nature, with room left for experimentation. Il Terzo Grado fits into this approach of freedom and transparency, although the sources do not specify an appellation or a production area more restricted than Tuscany.

The 2023 vintage blends 60% Sangiovese, 18% Mammolo, 11% Alicante and 11% other red varieties. The grapes are harvested by hand at optimal ripeness, from vines farmed biodynamically. The wine is described as organic and vegan. In the cellar, half of the Sangiovese macerates with its skins for five to six days; the other half undergoes a shorter maceration in the press. The other varieties ferment together by semi-carbonic maceration, then join the Sangiovese. Fermentations are spontaneous, in stainless steel tanks. After blending, the wine is bottled without fining or filtration, with a low dose of sulfur.

The wine is aged for six months: some cuvées rest in old oak barrels, others in stainless steel tanks. The available tasting information does not precisely describe the color, the nose or any particular aromas, so I prefer not to invent them. The announced profile is nonetheless clear in its broad lines: fruity rather than marked by spice, youthful rather than dominated by wood, and light on the palate. The discreet aging and the blend of several varieties thus make this a red to approach for its freshness of style and its minimally interventionist approach, without expecting a more detailed aromatic sheet than the one provided.

At the table, without ceremony

I would serve it with risotto, pasta, pizza or a rice dish, but also with vegetables and white meats: simple pairings that let the wine keep its place without overwhelming it. It can also accompany a white fish. For a convivial meal where you want a light red and a bottle with transparent cellar work, Il Terzo Grado 2023 offers a good opportunity to taste a personal interpretation of Tuscany.