Dalmau 2020

This cuvée comes from Pago Canajas, a 9-hectare vineyard planted at 465 metres above sea level in the upper part of Finca Ygay, in the south of Rioja Alta, Spain. Part of the DOCa Rioja appellation, this terroir of iron-rich clay soils covered with surface pebbles encourages slow, complete ripening of the grapes. Yields are deliberately kept low to favour concentration.

The grapes are hand-harvested into small crates, destemmed and then rigorously sorted. Each grape variety is vinified separately and fermented for about 10 days at controlled temperature in 13,900-litre French Allier oak vats, with regular pump-overs and rack-and-returns. Each lot is then aged 17 months in French Allier oak barrels, before blending and resting for 13 months in concrete tanks.

This wine reveals notes of black cherry, blueberry, red plum, black liquorice, fresh mint, cedar, black pepper, bitter cocoa, dark chocolate, exotic spices and minerality. The palate is broad, dense and velvety, structured by fresh, firm acidity and silky, ripe tannins. The long, flavourful finish carries the fruity depth and spicy nuances of the wine with balance.

The history of wine in Spain is so ancient that no one really knows who first brought the vines to the region. By the time the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was already well established, and Spanish wines were widely traded throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a winemaking miracle. After years on the sidelines of the world of fine wines, it is now a major player. Investment and ambition in vineyards and wineries are resulting in increasingly rich, complex (often high in alcohol), and spicy reds that are gaining popularity with international consumers. Proud to have more land dedicated to vines than any other country, Spain is only now beginning to capitalize on this resource in a consistent way. Spain is a chaotic jumble of regions and subregions, much like its landscape is a chaotic jumble of incredibly rugged scenery. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the lush, green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the parched vineyards of the southeastern Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace for viticulture is the average altitude of its vineyards, which is over 600 meters. Many Spanish vineyards are thus able to produce grapes with good color and acidity simply because nighttime temperatures are relatively low and the grapes don't ripen until after a sufficiently long growing season. But there is a real treasure trove to be found for those willing to dig, and now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all sorts of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine. Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun to craft spectacular wines and experiment with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable not so long ago. Wine remains an important commodity and an integral part of Spanish culture.