La Gutina Demontre 2022

La Gutina is a small natural-wine grower in the L'Empordà region of Catalonia, near Girona, and Demontre is a blend of Garnacha and Samso, the local name for Carinena. The fruit comes from the two-hectare La Sureda plot in Alt Empordà, planted at around 90 metres on granitic jabre soils, with vines about 20 years old farmed organically and fed with pruning clippings and harvest compost. The decomposed-granite soil drains freely and gives bright, perfumed red fruit, while the Tramuntana wind that sweeps this corner of Catalonia keeps the canopy dry and the vines healthy, allowing low-intervention farming. The grapes are picked and sorted by hand. This is a young, natural style, made with minimal additions and little or no oak, so the focus stays on fresh fruit and the lift of the two Mediterranean varieties rather than on structure or wood. It is organic and vegan. The colour is bright, vivid red. The nose shows ripe red berries, cherry and red currant with dried herbs and a subtle hint of liquorice. The palate is light to medium bodied, juicy and approachable, with soft tannin, fresh acidity and an earthy, lightly peppery finish. Serve lightly cool at 14 to 16 degrees. Easy with charcuterie and lighter dishes.