María 2020

María de Alonso de Yerro (the wine, not the person) hails from two contrasting parcels on the estate - El Circo de Quinto de Pedro and Violeta de Viña Montserrat - of 0.97 and 0.84 hectares, respectively. Stylish, refined yet well structured, it has beautifully judged tannins, an earthy undertone, cassis and red berry fruit, scented 20% new wood and a long, balanced, tapering finish. 2025-30.

The 2020 María was produced with grapes from two plots that were picked on September 21 and 25 and had an extended élevage of 17 months in French oak barrels and foudres. It's ripe without excess at 14.5% alcohol, keeping a pH of 3.62. It could be the character of the year, as I also find some notes of iron and meat here along with hints of tempera paint and some earthy rusticity that also shows in the palate in the shape of a dusty texture. It needs powerful food. 4,400 bottles and 100 magnums produced. It was bottled in October 2022.

Nice dark earth and peppercorn funk on top of the spiced blackberries and dark cherries. Juicy and full-bodied, with tight-grained, mealy tannins offering a panoramic coating to the palate. Long and compact. Drink or hold. (Zekun Shuai).