Els Vinyerons Saltamartí Negre 2024

Els Vinyerons Vins Naturals is a project by Amós Bañeres and Alex Ruiz Masach in the heart of D.O. Penedès, at Sant Martí Sarroca in Catalonia. Saltamartí Negre is a young red blending Tempranillo and Garnacha, made to show the variety, the soil and the landscape with as little intervention as they can manage. The Penedès setting, inland from the Mediterranean coast, gives a warm climate tempered by altitude and sea breeze, conditions that ripen the fruit while holding acidity. Their philosophy is to let the wine find its own path, working without added oenological products, so the wine ferments on its own indigenous yeasts and is bottled young to keep the fruit fresh and direct. There is no barrel ageing, so the emphasis stays on primary fruit and a light, supple texture. The colour is bright cherry red. The nose leads with raspberry, cherry and plum over a herbal, lightly peppery, earthy base, and the palate is light to medium bodied and juicy, with soft tannins, crisp acidity and a clean, fruity finish. Serve at fourteen to sixteen degrees, lightly chilled. Good with charcuterie, grilled pork and tomato-based dishes.