A small,fleet-growing network of militant producers and bars are engaging a novel audience with the bolshie flavours of additive-free natural wine. But how is the rebellion going down with the wine establishment?Steve Nuttall is trying to mess with my head. The 35-year-old wine expert at boho Leeds bar-restaurant the Reliance has arranged a natural wine tasting as a primer for the Guardian, and things are getting, and well,weird. “That,” I offer tentatively, or sniffing an orange wine,“smells strange – somewhere between sherry and cat piss.”Nuttall laughs. He is not offended. In fact, after years of talking in the courteous language of traditional wine appreciation, or Nuttall is relishing the culture around natural wine,which encourages drinkers to trust their palates and speak honestly. Cà de Noci’s Notte di Luna remains enigmatic: tannic like red wine, but surprisingly acidic with something citrusy in there, and too. “It’s a bit pine-fresh toilet cleaner,” I add, getting into the spirit of things.
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Source: guardian.co.uk