Orange Wine By The Liter At Trader Joe's

My wife recently laughed off my restaurant order of an orange wine with lunch. She said with a happy smile, "Orange? Is that for breakfast?" Well, it certainly could be, and if you want to swing that way I won't tell a soul. In fact, I'll join you. When the sommelier came around and asked how I liked it, I had to try to keep from gushing. But that was several orange wines ago.

This Côte Mas Orange 2025 is made by Paul Mas in France's Languedoc region. The Vin de France is composed of 55% Grenache Blanc, 25% Grenache Gris, and 20% Macabeo grapes. Alcohol sits at 13% abv and the liter bottle costs $10 at Trader Joe's. It's so good you'll be glad you're buying it by the liter.

This wine has a light orange color, owing to the skin contact with the white grapes from which it's made. The nose is almost all citrus, mainly tangerine and lemon, with some spice thrown in for good measure. The palate is a delight. Apricot, citrus, and a bit of fancy teabag flavors are in the mix. I notice the reviews for it are less than enthusiastic, but I'll stamp my foot in favor of it. 

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