La Fita Sumoll Negre 2023

La Fita is the personal project of Martí Torrallardona in the Penedès of Catalonia, built around family plots and native varieties. This wine comes from Can Catasús and is made entirely from Sumoll, a historic local grape that fell out of favour for its high acidity and pale colour and is now being reclaimed for exactly those traits. Farmed organically and made with minimal intervention, it spends four months in oak barrels, a short ageing that rounds the edges without covering the fruit. Sumoll naturally gives light colour, low alcohol and bright acidity, and the Mediterranean Penedès climate tempered by sea influence keeps the grapes fresh rather than jammy. The wine pours a pale, translucent cherry red. The nose is delicate and lifted, with red cherry, redcurrant and wild berries over dried herbs, a touch of rose and a clean earthy note. The palate is light bodied and crunchy at 11 per cent, with fine tannins and a savoury, mineral finish that reflects the natural winemaking. This is a red to serve lightly chilled at 13 to 15 degrees, and one of the few that genuinely suits a warm afternoon.