Castell del Remei 1780 2019

Castell del Remei is a long-standing reference in D.O. Costers del Segre in Lleida, with roots going back to 1780, when Ignasi Girona Vilanova applied Bordeaux knowledge to the family estate and became one of the first producers of fine aged wines in Catalonia. The 1780 bottling is a blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Merlot and Syrah. Costers del Segre is a dry, continental-leaning region with hot days and cold nights, a wide diurnal range that ripens the Bordeaux varieties while keeping acidity. The mix of varieties brings structure from Cabernet, body and warmth from Garnacha and Syrah, and a Tempranillo backbone. Ageing for eighteen months in French and American oak rounds the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds spice and sweetness, with the American oak leaning to vanilla. The colour is dark cherry with a garnet rim. The nose shows ripe plum and cherry over black pepper, cocoa and vanilla. The palate is full and structured, with firm ripe tannin and a long spiced finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb and grilled beef.