Mas De La Cacadora Rosa La Guapa Tinto 2018

Rosa La Guapa Tinto is made by Mas de la Caçadora in D.O. Montsant in Catalonia, a region of old Garnacha and Cariñena vines that ring the schist slopes of Priorat. The blend is ninety per cent Cariñena with five per cent each of Garnacha and Merlot, aiming for a traditional red with a rustic edge but the freshness to drink well today. Montsant's warm Mediterranean climate ripens the thick-skinned Cariñena fully, while poor soils keep yields low and concentrate the fruit. The wine is fermented in open 300 litre French oak barrels, an unusual method that puts the juice in contact with wood from the start and encourages a gentle, even extraction, then aged a further ten months in barrel to round the tannins through slow oxygen exchange. Expect a deep colour and a nose of ripe dark and red fruit with wild herbs, pepper and a stony minerality. The palate is full-bodied and warm, fruit-driven but with the firm tannin and fresh acidity Cariñena brings, closing long and savoury. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted for an hour. Good with grilled and roast meats and mushroom dishes.