2022 Alkina Grenache

Tasted from Coravin Vinitas test-tube-like sample container (100 ml). NASAA certified organic and biodynamic. This is their 'village' wine from young vines and varied terroirs. ' The Kin label allows us to expand our winemaking knowledge while exploring new vineyard parcels and blends each year'. A cool but compressed vintage. The f ruit came from blocks 18 and 22, both planted in 2016. Block 18, picked on 21 and 25 March, is on a schist base with more clay. Block 22 was picked on 21 March and has quartzite and limestone seams. It is elevated and planted to bush vines along the hill’s contours. Hand-picked and then fermented in 4 separate parcels as 100% whole bunches. Three ferments were in concrete and one in stainless steel. Roughly 3 weeks each on skins and all then basket-pressed and into concrete, apart from one smaller parcel in steel. Six months' maturation before blending and bottling in October 2022. 750 cases and 90 magnums.  Light to mid crimson. Dark-red sweet fruit aromas (sweet compared with the and the Old Quarter blends but not compared with your average Grenache). Not particularly stemmy or leafy for a wine that is 100% whole-bunch fermented. Silky and riper tasting than the polygon 22, a little more generous and not as dry in the mouth. Still nicely chewy on the finish. (JH)