Rich and ripe, dense and dark with aromas of green olives, black pepper, ripe melons and slightly chalky; full-bodied and very rich, almost opulent, reminiscent of red apples, immensely juicy, at the same time strikingly structured, powerful, very long, huge potential.

Harvest at the beginning / mid of September. Whole bunch pressing, fermentation without temperature control and using only natural yeasts with maturation occurring in both stainless steel tanks and large oak barrels. The wine rested on the lees until middle of May prior to bottling at the end of July and release in September 2019.

The 2018 growing season began well. Budding was later than in the previous year after a colder January and February. From March, however, temperatures during the day increased and vegetation accelerated. This led to early flowering, and was followed by a hot, dry summer. Much-needed rainfall came mid-July in the form of a 55mm downpour, therefore rapidly nourishing the vines. Despite the prolonged heat and near-drought conditions, the grapes displayed good ripeness and were healthy. This was largely due to rigorous crop-thinning during July to enable the vines to use the limited availability of moisture efficiently. The harvest began early on 28th August and lasted until 27th September, and the grapes were picked during the early hours of the morning to avoid the hot midday temperatures. Thus, the grapes were still cool while they were whole- bunch pressed in the cellar.
The finished wines are juicy and generous, which is unexpected considering the chal- lenges faced in such a hot year. They display fine mineral characters with balanced, yet vibrant acidity, and a refreshing structure.