Cap de Barbaria 2021

Cap de Barbaria is made on Formentera, in the Balearic Islands, under the VT Formentera designation, from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Monastrell and the local Fogoneu. The Mediterranean island climate is hot, dry and sun-drenched, with constant sea wind, conditions that ripen the fruit fully and account for the 14.5 percent alcohol and the warm, intense style. To build colour and structure the winery prolongs maceration with the skins, continuing even after alcoholic fermentation finishes, which extracts the maximum tannin and phenolics from the skins. The Cabernet and Merlot are then aged in new and second-year French oak, with eight months in French and American barrels rounding the tannins and adding spice. The colour is deep and dark. The nose shows ripe plum and black cherry over black pepper, dried herbs and liquorice, with a saline, herbal lift from the maritime setting. The palate is full and warm, with ripe firm tannin and a long savoury finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits grilled lamb and slow-cooked red meat.