Mustiguillo Mestizaje Bobal (75cl, 13.5%)

An organic Bobal-dominant red blend from El Terrerazo in Valencia, Spain, produced by Bodega Mustiguillo and bottled at 13.5% ABV. The estate farms at roughly 800 metres above the Mediterranean on limestone soils, one of Spain's elite Vino de Pago single-estate designations granted in 2010. It practices non-irrigated gobelet viticulture with manual harvesting into small boxes. Grape varieties are vinified separately; malolactic fermentation occurs in oak and stainless steel, and the final blend spends 11 months in French oak barrels. The 2021 release comprises 75% Bobal, 15% Garnacha and 10% Syrah, while the 2022 narrows to 80% Bobal and 20% Garnacha. The nose shows ripe blackberry, black currant, violet, cedar, cracked black pepper, clove and vanilla. The palate is fleshy with dark fruit, mineral acidity from limestone soils, fine-grained tannins, red cherry, leather and spicy licorice. The finish is medium-long with tobacco, dark chocolate and sweet-spicy warmth.