Cellers Unió Perlat Negre 2023

Cellers Unió make Perlat Negre in D.O. Montsant in Catalonia, a region whose production is overwhelmingly red and led by Grenache. This bottling blends Garnacha with Mazuela and Syrah, the classic Montsant trio. The zone is known for its poor, stony soils, including the licorella slate that surrounds neighbouring Priorat, along with sand and limestone, which force the vines to root deep and yield concentrated, mineral wines. The hot, dry Mediterranean climate, tempered by altitude and cool nights, ripens the fruit fully while holding acidity. The wine is raised for more than ten months in oak barrels, an ageing that softens the tannins through slow oxygen exchange and adds structure and gentle spice, while malolactic fermentation rounds the acidity into a smoother texture. The colour is deep, dark red. The nose shows ripe red and black berries, plum and cherry, with black pepper, liquorice, dried herbs and a stony, earthy edge. The palate is full bodied and warming, with ripe tannins, balanced acidity and a long savoury finish carried by the mineral character of the soils. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees in a large red glass. It pairs well with grilled and roast red meats and lamb.