Can Leandro ‘L’Arenal’ Monastrell 2023

The Gobelet-trained Monastrell vines grow on the unique 2.6 hectare plot on the Lloma Rasa estate, at 550 metres altitude. The soil is poor quality sandy-silt, on a limestone crust. The grapes are harvested into 18kg crates, and cold stored (at 8ºC) for 36 hours before alcoholic fermentation and maceration. This takes place with 40% of the stems, at 26ºC, in 900 litre oak casks for 35 days with gentle pigeage. The wine then spends 8 months in 500 litre French oak barrels with gentle battonage, before bottling and release.

Aromas of violet, ripe black fruits, smoky spice and savoury characters. Dark plum and blueberry characters on the palate, with notes of cedar and liquorice, and well-integrated oak giving structure and weight – all balanced by bright acidity. The sandy soils making this quite supple already.