Dominio del Challao Angelita del Challao 2021

Drink it now or cellar for up to 20 years. No need to decant but best to open it an hour before service. Domaine del Challao is one of the Michelini family’s projects. After founding the Michelini i Mufatto winery in El Bierzo, Manuel Michelini, the son of Argentine winemakers Andrea Mufatto and Gerardo Michelini, traveled to Labastida, in Rioja Alavesa, where in 2019 he met Carlos Fernández, a local winemaker who has been rooted in the area for generations. From that meeting, in 2020, the first vintage of Angelita de Challao was born, a blend of a majority of Tempranillo with Garnacha, and small percentages of Mazuelo, Viura, Garnacha Blanca, and other unknown varieties. Fermentation occurs spontaneously and the finished wines rest in cement for 20 months followed by 6 months in a bottle. The name of the wine is a tribute to Manuel Michelini's grandmother, originally from Mallorca and emigrated to the Argentine town of La Angelita. Angelita del Challao is a lively and youthful wine with a medium-intensity color with cherry red tones. On the nose, the wine reveals a fragrant and fresh aromatic profile with notes of strawberry, raspberry, and red currant, followed by floral and slightly spicy hints. On the palate, it is tasty and balanced with a medium body and fine, soft tannins. It is smooth and has good freshness, and a long, fruity finish. Try it with lamb or roast pork.

Price: £20.29 from 8wines UK