La Planella 2023

Joan d'Anguera is a family winery founded in 1820, farming 31 hectares biodynamically in the southwest corner of D.O. Montsant. La Planella blends Cariñena with Syrah grown on the region's poor llicorella slate soils, which drain hard and force the vines to root deep, concentrating colour and flavour while the broken stone radiates warmth back into the canopy. Montsant sits at altitude with wide day to night temperature swings, so the grapes ripen fully while holding their acidity. Fermentation and maceration run warm at 27 to 29 degrees over 25 to 30 days, extracting tannin and the dark fruit pigments that mark the wine. It then ages 10 to 12 months in French oak, which softens the structure through slow oxygen exchange and adds a frame of spice. The colour is deep and opaque. The nose leads with ripe plum and red berries over black pepper and liquorice, with a stony, earthy edge from the slate. The palate is full and firm, the tannins ripe but gripping, closing savoury and long. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits grilled red meat and earthy mushroom dishes.