Montsant Tinto 'Venus de la Figuera'

Score

93

"La Figuera is a small town high in the Montsant mountains, known for its old vines. The 2020 Venus de la Figuera hails from a tiny old-vine plot located next to a water tank painted with graffiti of Venus. Made from 100% Garnatxa, it presents a blood-like core along with wild herbs, elderflower and black tea notes. Dry and infusion-like on the palate, it glides with a vibrant, chalky mouthfeel. This is a warm, grippy wine that's full of energy."

Score

96

"The top reds have longer ,levage and are released later, as is the case for the 2020 Venus de La Figuera. This is a vineyard they selected at higher altitude, but in the first vintages, the wine was done in amphorae (2014 and 2015), which they found too concentrated and reductive. They then used foudres and reduced the production. And in 2020, they wanted an even more ethereal wine, so they used full clusters; but some 30% of the grapes were pressed and the juice added to the vat, then then did a very long infusion to have a very subtle extraction. This was increased in the following years. The wine was aged in amphora for 18 to 20 months. It has 13.7% alcohol and the profile they were looking for. It's floral and perfumed, fine-boned and velvety, with very elegant tannins and an ethereal quality, very fresh and not showing any of the heat or the drought from the year. 1,548 bottles and 120 magnums were filled in January 2023."