Binifadet Negre 2024

Bodegas Binifadet makes this red in Sant Lluis on Menorca, in the VT Illa de Menorca, from a blend of Merlot and Syrah. The estate dates to 1979, when Carlos Angles planted the first vines and over successive harvests selected the varieties best suited to the island's climate. The maritime setting is the defining influence: sea breezes and a moderating coastal climate keep the grapes fresh, giving the wine its bright acidity and lower alcohol, while warm Mediterranean days ripen the Merlot and Syrah to a soft, red-fruited profile. Ageing is brief, just three months in American oak, enough to round the edges and add a touch of vanilla and spice without covering the fruit, so the wine stays light, fresh and immediate. It pours a bright cherry red, with a nose of raspberry, red cherry and plum lifted by black pepper and a thyme-like herbal note. The palate is light to medium-bodied, soft in tannin and juicy, closing fresh and savoury. Serve lightly chilled at 14 to 16 degrees. A flexible, summery red for lighter meats and Mediterranean dishes.