Raimat Turons de Vallcorba 2021

Raimat is a historic estate in the DO Costers del Segre in Lleida, inland Catalonia, founded by the Raventós family in 1914. The family was central to creating the appellation itself, transforming dry, barren land into vineyard with the help of the Aragon and Catalonia canal completed in 1910. This is their organic single variety Cabernet Sauvignon. Costers del Segre has a continental climate, with hot dry summers, cold winters and a marked day to night temperature swing that keeps acidity firm and ripens Cabernet's tannins slowly. The stony, well drained soils restrict yields and concentrate the fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon is a thick skinned, late ripening grape, naturally high in tannin and colour, which gives the wine its structure and ageing potential. Twenty months in French oak barrels add a fine tannin, gentle vanilla and toast, and allow slow oxygen exchange that softens and integrates the wine. The result is deep ruby to garnet with aromas of blackcurrant, plum, cedar and a cool minty note that is typical of well ripened Cabernet. The palate is structured and firm, with dark fruit, a savoury earthiness, oak spice and grippy but ripe tannins on a long finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted. It suits roast lamb and grilled red meat.