Gran Caus Negre 2023

Gran Caus Negre comes from Can Rafols dels Caus, the estate Carlos Esteve built in one of the more mountainous corners of D.O. Penedes in Catalonia. The vines sit on limestone-rich soils at altitude in the Garraf massif, where chalky subsoil and good drainage keep the wine fresh and the cool nights preserve acidity in a warm Mediterranean climate. It blends Cabernet Franc and Merlot, a Bordeaux pairing that gives the Cabernet Franc its leafy, peppery lift and the Merlot its rounder plummy fruit. The wine spends 12 months in French oak barrels, which knits the tannins and adds vanilla and a fine woodspice while malolactic fermentation softens the texture. In the glass it is deep red, with ripe red fruit, plum and cherry on the nose over tobacco, dried herbs and cedar. The palate is medium to full, fresh and savoury, the limestone showing as a mineral cut beneath firm but ripe tannin. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees and decant young bottles. It works well with roast and grilled red meats and earthy vegetable dishes.