La Mala 2017 con Estuche de Madera

"Our most mineral terroir" is Jaime Suárez's description of La Mala, the coldest and latest picked of his single site reds. Ten sub-parcels of east facing, pre-phylloxera vines on sandy clay soils make up the 0.7 hectares here. Wild, dense and savoury, this has the concentration of its low-yielding site, tapenade, garrigue and black fruit flavours and a balanced, vibrantly refreshing finish. 2025-35. 

Perhaps the most approachable of the 2017 single-vineyard wines is the 2017 La Mala, and in fact, it feels more harmonious than the already great 2016. In fact, I like it better than the 2016! It has good ripeness, slightly lower alcohol than others and very good freshness. It has some restraint and doesn't show any heat, even in a warmer year like 2017, as the clay from the soil seems to make it very homogeneous. It has very chalky tannins, giving it a mineral texture. It matured in 100% used oak and produced 863 bottles. It was bottled in August 2019.