Almirez

The 2020 Almirez comes from 41.7 hectares of vines ranging between 15 and 65 years of age. It fermented for 20 days, followed by malolactic in barrel and 14 months in French oak barrels, 30% of them new. The wine is quite approachable and has finesse; it's fine-boned, more fluid and refined than other years. The rains in August resulted in larger grapes with more juice, and the wine is quite approachable even at this young age. It's expressive, clean and powerful (the place is like that) and with 14.81% alcohol that goes unnoticed. It has abundant, fine-grained tannins and some creaminess and spiciness from the time in barrel, developing some mintiness with time in the glass; later, there's more licorice and even aniseed and fennel aromas. 88,800 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2022.

Deep crimson. Dark fruit – elderberry rather than cassis – and a touch of char and coffee. Dark and savoury on the palate, with a savoury quality to the oak overlay. Dry finesse even in youth. Too oaky for my taste but harmonious in its own style.