2018 Grus de Alcohuaz Mezcla Tinta

Lots of spiced red and black berry fruits, cracked pepper, new leather, and peony flower-like notes emerge from the 2018 Grus, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a beautiful spine of acidity and stunning purity of fruit. Based on 51% Syrah, 16% Petit Verdot, 15% Petite Sirah, and the rest Garnacha, Malbec, and Carinena sourced from vineyards near the village of Alcohuaz, it saw between 20-30% stems and aging in foudre and concrete eggs.

A mixture of different parcels and varietals, blending together 51% Syrah, 16% Petit Verdot, 15% Petite Sirah, 10% Garnacha, 5% Malbec and 3% Carignan from Alcohuaz, Elqui, made in open vats from crushed grapes. The complex nose offers plum, blueberry and blackberry notes mixed with pepper and balsam. The firm, chalky tannins, well-judged freshness and juicy flow keep the flavors going.

The 2018 Grus is quite different from year to year, and in this cooler vintage, the blend is 51% Syrah, 16% Petit Verdot, 15% Petite Sirah, 10% Garnacha, 5% Malbec and 3% Cariñena. The wines here keep moderate alcohol and very good freshness and acidity. This fermented with 20% to 30% full clusters in stone lagars and matured in a combination of concrete eggs, oak foudres and oak vats for 17 months. This is a lot fresher than 2017; it feels young and undeveloped, with a lot of Syrah character, in line with the 2016, floral and expressive. There is a nice herbal twist that develops with time in the glass. The palate is juicy and velvety, with round tannins and very good balance, long and tasty, hands down the best vintage for Grus since they started in 2014. 25,370 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2019.