2018 Sot Lefriec

The long-distance runner 2018 Sot Lefriec is now released earlier than in the past, but the wine still needs some time in bottle to show its true colors. Each year they try to produce the best wine possible from their vineyard in Lavern, and as such, the blend changes. In the cooler 2018 vintage, the wine is a blend of 50% Cariñena, 35% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon with 13.8% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.3 grams of acidity. It matured in French oak barrels, 40% of them new, for 23 months. It's a serious (think Bordeaux rather than Burgundy), structured and powerful red with sweet spices, smoke and traces of oak that are intermixed with floral notes, aromatic herbs and wild berries. It has a lively palate with sharp tannins and very good acidity, coming through as fresh and citrusy. It should age nicely in bottle. This is one of the finest Sot Lefriecs of recent years. 1,300 bottles and 20 magnums were filled in February 2021.