Winemaker Notes
Sourced from near Masroig where there is consistently just enough rain to achieve maturity but keep the red fruit flavors the winemaker wants for this wine. A bit of carbonic and no wood makes this fresh, easy and charming.
Blend: 70% Garnacha, 20% Carignan, 5% Tempranillo, 5% White Grapes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 La Selección from Fredi Torres is now part of the Lectores Vini portfolio. It's a blend of 70% Garnacha, 20% Cariñena and 5% Tempranillo, with the remaining 5% made up of different white varieties from organically farmed vineyards in the village of El Masroig (Montsant). It fermented with some 10% full clusters in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and was kept with the lees for six months before bottling. It's a young and fruit-driven red with bright cherry aromas and notes of violets, quite perfumed, expressive and attractive. The palate is quite light despite the 14% alcohol, and the tannins are very fine. It's clean and long, very tasty.
With hundreds of red grape varieties to choose from, winemakers have the freedom to create a virtually endless assortment of blended red wines. In many European regions, strict laws are in place determining the set of varieties that may be used, but in the New World, experimentation is permitted and encouraged resulting in a wide variety of red wine styles. Blending can be utilized to enhance balance or create complexity, lending different layers of flavors and aromas. For example, a red wine blend variety that creates a fruity and full-bodied wine would do well combined with one that is naturally high in acidity and tannins. Sometimes small amounts of a particular variety are added to boost color or aromatics. Blending can take place before or after fermentation, with the latter, more popular option giving more control to the winemaker over the final qualities of the wine.
How to Serve Red Wine
A common piece of advice is to serve red wine at “room temperature,” but this suggestion is imprecise. After all, room temperature in January is likely to be quite different than in August, even considering the possible effect of central heating and air conditioning systems. The proper temperature to aim for is 55° F to 60° F for lighter-bodied reds and 60° F to 65° F for fuller-bodied wines.
How Long Does Red Wine Last?
Once opened and re-corked, a bottle stored in a cool, dark environment (like your fridge) will stay fresh and nicely drinkable for a day or two. There are products available that can extend that period by a couple of days. As for unopened bottles, optimal storage means keeping them on their sides in a moderately humid environment at about 57° F. Red wines stored in this manner will stay good – and possibly improve – for anywhere from one year to multiple decades. Assessing how long to hold on to a bottle is a complicated science. If you are planning long-term storage of your reds, seek the advice of a wine professional.
