Maninalto 2018 – Mauzac Rose Edition

Vintage 2018 | Gaillac, France | 100% Mauzac Rose | Skin-Contact White Wine

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2018 was a year of firsts—a new region, a new cellar, and completely new native grape varieties. After working with Sicilian fruit, stepping into Gaillac, one of France’s oldest wine regions, felt like flipping to a completely new chapter.

Here, I discovered varieties I had only read about: Mauzac, Loin de l’Oeil, Ondenc, Muscadelle for whites, and Braucol, Prunelart, Duras for reds. But one stood out: Mauzac Rose—an indigenous, underappreciated gem often overlooked even by locals.

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A Vintage That Teaches You to Let Go

As Charlie Mackesy wrote in The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse:

“Is the glass half full or empty? I’m just glad to have a glass.”

That quote sums up 2018. You only get one shot to do it right, and the rest is about being present, open, and trusting the process.

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A Rare Grape with a Distinct Voice

Mauzac Rose is not commonly vinified on its own. Often co-planted alongside Mauzac Blanc or Vert, it's a grape that almost disappears in blends—but when treated with care, it sings with delicate aromatics, a gentle texture, and depth that rewards time.

 

Vinification & Details

• Grape: 100% Mauzac Rose (Gaillac)

• 90% macerated on skins for 5 months in amphora

• 10% direct press (“jus de goutte”)

• Spontaneous fermentation

• Unfined, unfiltered, no added SO₂

• Alcohol: 14%

• Bottle size: 0.5 L

 

Tasting Notes

Golden-hued with a subtle pink shimmer, this wine is all about finesse and patience. On the nose: delicate notes of dried white flowers, orchard fruit, and crushed herbs. On the palate: soft tannins, elegant structure, and a gentle bitterness that lifts the finish.

A wine that evolves in the glass and rewards slow drinking.