Sindicat La Figuera 2024

Sindicat de la Figuera is a Garnacha red from the village of La Figuera in D.O. Montsant, in inland Catalonia. The wine comes from old cooperative vineyards that René Barbier first followed for their potential, returning to taste the village fruit year after year. Montsant sits in a ring around Priorat, sharing its warm, dry climate but working a mix of clay and stony soils rather than only slate, which gives Garnacha here ripe red fruit alongside fresh acidity. The wine is fermented and aged eight months in concrete vats. Concrete holds a steady temperature through fermentation and lets the wine settle without adding oak flavour, so the fruit and the village character stay forward and the texture stays soft. The colour is bright cherry with violet reflections. The nose leads with ripe strawberry and redcurrant over a floral note, and the palate is juicy and medium bodied, carrying cherry and plum to a savoury, lightly peppery close. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees, with no decant needed. It works through a buffet of charcuterie and roast pork, and suits grilled chicken or a simple tomato pasta.