Clos Lentiscus Perill Noir 2017

Clos Lentiscus Perill Noir is a red from D.O. Penedès, made by a family winery in Sant Pere de Ribes, in the Garraf natural park near Barcelona. The project aims to make wine the way it once was, farming without pesticides or herbicides, working by the lunar calendar and keeping intervention to a minimum, and the result is certified natural and vegan. The grape is Sumoll, a near forgotten Catalan variety that holds high acidity and keeps alcohol modest, here just 12.5 percent. The vines sit mainly on sandy calcareous soils, which drain freely and give a wine of structure rather than weight, the limestone lending freshness and a savoury, mineral edge. The wine spends 30 months in French oak, an unusually long time for a light bodied red, which builds complexity and resolves the firm tannins of the grape into something supple and earthy. The colour is medium ruby with garnet at the rim. The nose is savoury and herbal, with red cherry, dried thyme and a touch of leather over forest floor. The palate is fresh and structured, the acidity keeping it lively, finishing on earth and pepper. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees. Good with roast lamb and grilled vegetables.