Malpuesto 2020

Deep, concentrated and polished nose, full of blackberries, dark plums, blueberries and dark spices, together with hints of fine spice and cocoa beans. Classy, complex and full on the palate, charged with caressing tannins that meld together with the dark-berry and creamy-mocha flavors before a long, juicy finish. Restrained yet plush. Lots of potential. Drink or hold.

The showy 2020 Malpuesto, from the zone of the same name in Villabuena de Álava, comes in a huge Burgundy bottle, but the wine feels more proportioned than ever, with much better integrated oak and contained ripeness and extraction. It has 14.63% alcohol and good freshness and balance, juicy, round and with a vibrant mouthfeel that finishes with some spicy oak notes that should integrate over the next couple of years. The élevage was shortened to 12 months in barrel. 6,876 bottles and 100 magnums were filled in July 2020.