Idoia Negre 2019

Idoia Negre is a red wine from D.O. Catalunya made by Ca N'Estruc, a small family winery on the hillside of the Montserrat mountains with roots going back to 1548. It is a blend of Syrah and Garnacha grown on these slopes, where a Mediterranean climate tempered by altitude and the surrounding hills ripens the fruit fully while keeping the acidity that gives the wine its freshness and the Syrah its pepper. The two varieties are handled separately by grape and vine age, then fermented in stainless steel at controlled temperature with daily pump overs over about fifteen days, a regime that extracts colour and supple tannin while keeping the fruit bright. The wine is then aged twelve months in French oak from Allier, the gentle oxidation rounding the tannins and adding vanilla and spice. It is deep ruby, the nose led by dark plum and red berries with black pepper, dried herbs and a vanilla lift, the palate medium to full bodied, ripe and rounded, with soft tannins, liquorice and a spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It suits grilled meats and roast vegetables.