Natty Skin-contact white from Alsace
31% Muscat, 24% Klevner, 18% Sylvaner, 11% Pinot Gris, 10% Riesling, 6% Auxerrois
Pepin is a project by Alsace winery Achillee and Duo Oenologie, to make a line of natural wines that is accessible, affordable and supports small vinegrowers who want to make zero sulfite wines.
All the wines are organic or biodynamic grown, hand-harvested, indigenous yeast fermentations and with zero sulfites added. The wines are grown and sometimes vinified by various producers (about 15 different independent growers) with winemaking supervised by the Pepin team with a view to consistently putting out wines in particular styles. The styles are fun and easy going, built for social enjoyment. They typically have an Alsace structure but with a bit with a slightly wild side.
A classic skin-contact/orange wine. Soft orange rind tannin, floral, some roasted hazelnut. Slightly oily and honeyed - in a good way. Good mesh of ease-of-drinking vs complexity/interest.