Sant Josep Llagrimes De Tardor Crianza 2023

Llàgrimes de Tardor is made by Cooperativa Sant Josep de Bot in D.O. Terra Alta, an inland, high-altitude corner of Catalonia. The blend is led by Garnacha from selected vineyards over 30 years old, with Mazuela, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each variety grows on a different property with its own soils and microclimate, which gives the winemaker a broader palette to assemble from. Terra Alta's altitude and the dry Mediterranean climate, cooled by the Ebro and the inland breezes, ripen the fruit fully while keeping enough acidity for balance. The harvest is by hand and each variety is fermented separately after a long maceration of 20 to 25 days, which extracts colour, tannin and structure from the skins. Ageing runs to 12 months in new and used French and American oak, where slow oxygen exchange softens the tannins and American oak in particular adds vanilla and sweet spice. The wine is then gently clarified and filtered, and rested in bottle for at least seven months. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows ripe red and dark berries, plum, black pepper and liquorice over vanilla and toasted oak. The palate is full bodied and firm, with ripe tannins and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It suits grilled and roast meats.