Albet i Noya Reserva Martí 2020

Albet i Noya makes Reserva Martí in the D.O. Penedès in Catalonia, a tribute to Marti Albet Esteve and the work of five generations who have farmed organically here since 1978, certified by the CCPAE. The wine is built on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Penedès rises inland from the Mediterranean, with calcareous soils and cooler hillside sites that let Cabernet Sauvignon ripen slowly while keeping fresh acidity and the grape's leafy, cassis character. The day to night temperature swing holds aroma and colour. Ageing runs 24 months in French oak followed by 12 months in bottle, the long barrel time firming the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adding cedar and spice, with the bottle ageing softening the wine before release. The 2020 shows a deep colour and a complex nose of ripe dark fruit, redcurrant and plum, lifted by mint, clove and tobacco. The palate is full and structured, the tannins ripe and the finish long. Serve at 17 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast and grilled red meat.