The single-vineyard 2018 La Estrecha comes from a plot on granite soils that was planted mostly with Bobal but also with some 5% other grapes from Manchuela, the way vineyards were traditionally planted in the past. The objective here is to show finesse, and they achieved it through moderate alcohol (12.5%) and good freshness following the usual modus operandi: native fermentation of the full clusters in 4,500-liter oak vats and 11 months in 600-liter French barrels. This is always a more elegant expression of Bobal, while, for example, the Pino has more concentration and power. The color is a light ruby, and the nose is an explosion of flowers and aromatic herbs, mixing Mediterranean and continental characteristics, somehow balsamic but also flinty/stony. This is a little more reductive, and the wine might welcome an energetic decanting if you open it soon (this seems to happen more on the wines from granite soils). The palate has great balance, with lots of energy and inner power, linear and long, with almost citrus freshness and a dry, stony/mineral finish. This should develop nicely for a long time in bottle. The great vintages tend to be more austere early on. 2,500 bottles were filled in August 2019.- LG

The La Estrecha vineyard was planted in 1935, on calcareous soils, Bobal with a small amount of other locals such as Moravia and Marisancho. That combination, with 870m of altitude and Ponce’s very low-intervention approach to the winemaking, makes for an excitingly fresh and elegant Bobal, with a light stony character. The oak steps back here – it’s fermented in very large oak vats, then aged in 600L French oak. Biodynamic.