Familia Torres Mas La Plana 2019

Familia Torres Mas La Plana is made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon grown on a single vineyard in the D.O. Penedès, one of the wines that helped establish the grape in Spain. The Penedès terroir shapes its style: warm Mediterranean days ripen the late Cabernet fully, while elevation and sea breezes cool the nights and stretch the season, holding acidity and fine aromatic detail so the wine stays structured rather than heavy. Stony, gravel-rich soils restrict vigour and concentrate the fruit. As a varietal Cabernet the wine shows the grape clearly, from its cassis core to its firm tannins and herbal lift. Ageing runs to fifteen months in French oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the staves resolves the firm young tannins and adds cedar, spice and a fine grain of toast that frames the fruit. The colour is deep ruby. The nose leads with blackcurrant, red currant and plum, then cedar, tobacco and a cool note of mint. The palate is full and firm, the tannins structured and finely grained, the finish long and savoury. This is built for the cellar. Serve at 17 degrees and decant well ahead, with beef or lamb.