2013 Zárate Caiño Tinto

The 2013 Caíño, like all the red grapes for now, comes from individual vines that are planted with the Albariño (and the rest of varieties) in their old vineyards on granite soils; it was was full-cluster fermented in an open top oak vat where the bunches were foot trodden. It stayed in the vat and there was daily pigeage for the next four weeks. The wine matured in barriques for one year, where it also underwent malolactic fermentation. This is always very balsamic, with abundant notes of cracked peppercorns, something earthy/mineral reminiscent of wet pumice and notes of flowers in the background. The palate is vibrant and has citric acidity, very fine tannins, great length and persistence. This is an elegant, perfumed, cool climate red easy to drink and terribly tasty. It was bottled unfiltered and unfined into 1,300 bottles in March 2015.