2020 La Craie
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La Craie represents the calcareous character of Monasterio (the vineyards in Gualtallary owned by the monastery), according to winemaker Edy del Popolo. The plot is long and runs from west to east to almost the entire length of the Monte Alabanza, with 100% exposure to the south. Shallow calcareous soils. In the spring of 2019 there was a series of frosts in mid October, which meant production losses of around 50%. The Malbec and Cabernet Franc grapes (the latter making up 20–25% of the blend) were destemmed into used French oak barrels, where they were co-fermented with indigenous yeasts and the barrels were rolled once a day (rather than using pigeage, for example). The skins were in contact with the wine for 35 days. Aged 16 months in the same barrels. 904 bottles produced. Mid cherry red. More red fruit than in the Volare del Camino and Iubileus – the Cab Franc fragrance of raspberry and red cherry is present but also an impression of blueberry – yet without obvious fruit sweetness. Piercing zingy fruit freshness. Firm, dry, super-fine but still youthful tannins. Powerful yet elegant. More 'linear' than Iunileus, suggests Del Popolo, and I agree. Chalky, chewy. Firm and dry and still has elegance. (JH)
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Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
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The 2020 La Craie is a co-fermentation of Malbec and Cabernet Franc from El Monasterio in Gualtallary, Uco Valley, specifically a plot that faces south and sits on a hill with calcareous soils. Aged in neutral French oak barrels, it's purple in color. The nose has a high-altitude character of herbal notes such as sage and ash along with subtle hints of black- and blueberry. It's lean and electric on the palate, with taut, chalky tannins, mouthwatering acidity and a balanced, sculpted feel before the prolix, primary finish. It has a Venturi effect in the mouth, compressing itself in the middle before allowing the energy to flow freely.
The 2020 La Craie was also picked earlier, and the wine achieved lower alcohol (14%) than the 2019 through fermenting the destemmed grapes in their new crylon vats. It matured in used 225-liter barrels for 16 months, the same barrels they have always used from the beginning. It's a less austere expression of LaCraie, more open, aromatic and gentler but keeping the personality, the delicate tannins and the DNA from the place, the large bones with little meat. Great effort for the vintage. 912 bottles were filled in December 2021.