Summa Varietalis 2021

Summa Varietalis is a red from Marques de Grinon at the single-estate appellation V.P. Dominio de Valdepusa in Castilla La Mancha, one of the first Spanish estates classified for its own terroir. It blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Syrah grown on the property, a Bordeaux trio rounded out by Syrah that suits the warm, dry continental climate and the gravelly, lime-rich soils of the estate. Fruit is picked by hand, then given a long maceration of four to five weeks, which draws deep colour, structured tannin and dark fruit from the skins. Ageing follows in new and semi-new French oak from Allier, a tighter-grained wood that lends fine tannin and measured spice through slow oxygen exchange, and the wine is bottled without fining or filtration to keep texture and depth. It is dense purple, with blackcurrant, plum and red currant over black pepper, a cool eucalyptus lift, vanilla and cocoa. The palate is full and firm, with ripe tannins and a long savoury finish, and it is built to age. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, decanted an hour ahead, with roast lamb or grilled beef.