Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles 2017

The 2017 Vinyes Velles was produced with 74% Cariñena and 26% Garnacha from slope vineyards older than 70 years on llicorella slate soils all within the limits of the village of Porrera. All of the wines are produced in a similar way—fermentation after a short cold soak, with pumping over and punching down and macerated until the taste tells them it's enough. This wine matured in 225-liter French barriques for 16 months. In a warmer year, the high percentage of Cariñena has worked wonders; it has herbal and floral aromas and a rustic side but is mostly elegant. It's beautifully textured, and the tannins are very fine; there is no sense of heat at all, and it has amazing balance and a very tasty finish. The oak is perfectly integrated. These wines have a very low pH, as there is no potassium in the slate soils and the wines keep good freshness. 23,290 bottles and 501 magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2019.

Savoury, meaty and herbal bouquet, then huge complex flavours of buttermilk, damson, pomegranate, cumin and beeswax. It's muscular but also refined, classy and intense. Tremendous now and will only get better.