Gallinas & Focas 2012

"A nice, charity wine initiative for the Fundación Amadip Esment (for handicapped people), the 2012 Gallinas y Focas has increased the amount of Manto Negro, a variety from the north of the island, and in this vintage contains no more than 10% Syrah. The whole berries fermented in 40,000-liter oak vats with some 30% of the foudre fermented in 500-liter barrels with the lees, in a reductive atmosphere. It is then aged for one year in barrels and a half-year in the vat and bottled with very low sulfur. Manto Negro is a grape with very little color that translates into the wine with a slightly volatile nose showing hints of spices, leather and a mixture of red and black berry fruit that have a slight earthy, organic side. The palate is medium-bodied and a little austere with an elegant and fresh texture halfway between a Côte de Nuits and a Northern Rhône Syrah. It develops licorice, fennel and aniseed notes with time in the glass. It is a wine of character that would please the more conventional consumers as well as more audacious ones. 25,000 bottles were produced".