Abel Mendoza Tempranillo Grano a Grano 2016

The cool 2016 vintage produced a 2016 Graciano Grano A Grano with a low pH and high acidity, but the grapes were perfectly ripe. This is a peppery and spicy Graciano, a grape that likes a warm year. It matured in new French oak barrels, and perhaps the number of 225-liter barrels was higher (they are using more and more 500-liter barrels), as it seems to have marked the wine a little. This wine has the hallmark of the best 2016 reds, expressive, aromatic and open, quite showy. The palate is medium to full-bodied, and the flavors are focused, with the crushed black peppercorns making a glorious comeback on the palate. This should develop nicely in bottle. Another superb Graciano. 2,235 bottles were filled in May 2018.

The hand destemming that takes place every harvest time at Abel Mendoza's winery is great fun if you happen to be passing. This is a rich, intense, deeply coloured wine that needs at least another two years in bottle to show at its best with layers of dark bramble and blackberry fruit, fresh supporting acidity and firm tannins. 2022-30