La Forcallà de Antonia 2024

Rafael Cambra works on a deliberately small scale in Alforins, in the uplands of inland Valencia, in what he calls a garage winery. La Forcallà de Antonia is built around Forcayat, a near forgotten native variety he is helping to recover from a 55 year old vineyard alongside Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Alforins plateau sits at altitude, with limestone influenced soils and a marked swing between warm days and cold nights that preserves natural acidity and keeps alcohol in check. The estate philosophy is minimal intervention, with the emphasis placed on the vineyard rather than the cellar. After fermentation the wine spends around eight months in oak, enough to soften the tannins and round the texture without masking the fruit. The colour is a bright ruby. The nose leads with strawberry and cherry, lifted by wild herbs and a touch of cracked pepper. On the palate it is light to medium bodied, fresh and juicy, with gentle tannins and a savoury, slightly saline finish. Serve at 14 to 16 degrees, lightly chilled if you prefer. It pairs well with grilled pork, roast chicken and tomato based dishes.