Giró de Abargues 2018

The first pure Giró is here in the wine called 2018 Giró de Abargues, from the local variety that they now seriously think is not really Garnacha and which has some connections with Mallorca and Sardinia that is earthier and darker. It was produced with grapes from a vineyard at 300 meters in altitude only 700 meters away from the coast. It fermented in small 1,000-liter vats with some of the stems and indigenous yeasts. It matured in used 500-liter oak barrels for one year. It has the earthy and iron-like sensation from the very red soils and I think the slightly rustic character of the variety, which is more and more clear to me that it's not really related to Garnacha, as was originally thought. It has a profile that seems closer to a Barolo than a Garnacha. It could be a Mediterranean Nebbiolo, as it also has the aromatic herbs, the lavender and thyme. This was harvested very early (it's a vineyard that sprouts early too). 5,900 bottles were filled in February 2020. I also tasted a bottle of a 2003 Giró that was produced experimentally, and it has evolved nicely in bottle and in a way that fits the idea of a Barolista grape.