Bàrbara Forés El Templari 2022

El Templari is a single variety red from Bàrbara Forés, a family winery in Gandesa in the inland Catalan appellation of Terra Alta. It is made from Morenillo, an old and scarce local grape that gives pale colour, fresh acidity and a perfumed, lightly spiced character. The winery farms organically across twenty two hectares set among hills and varied orientations, where altitude and the cool nights of this elevated, continental zone preserve aromatics and freshness in a warm region. The wine is aged for nine months in clay jars rather than barrel. The unglazed clay allows a gentle, slow oxygenation through its porous walls without adding wood flavour, so the fruit and the grape's natural perfume stay in the foreground while the texture rounds out. The result is a light to medium bodied red, bright ruby in the glass, with a nose of red berries, cherry and red currant lifted by dried herbs, a floral rose note and cracked black pepper. The palate is fresh and savoury, with fine tannins, an earthy undertone and a clean finish. This is a red built for drinking rather than cellaring. Serve cool, at 14 to 16 degrees, with lighter meats and vegetable dishes.