2020 Marques de Murrieta Dalmau Reserva

The 2020 Dalmau Reserva was produced with a blend of 82% Tempranillo, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Graciano from Pago Canajas within the Ygay estate, nine hectares planted in 1950 on red stony soils where they seek low yields to achieve concentration. It's a powerful red, with 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.45 and six grams of acidity. The varieties were destemmed, then fermented separately in 13,900-liter oak vats with pumping over and délestage. The Tempranillo was picked on the 24th of September and the others on the 27th. They also matured separately in French oak barrels for 17 months, then blended and put in concrete for another 13 months, something that started in 2019 and continued, for even a longer time in 2020. This vintage continues the change towards freshness and elegance that I saw in 2019 but takes it even further. The wine is beautifully perfumed, floral and elegant, refined, clean, expressive and showy. It has a very subtle balsamic twist, a very harmonious and balanced palate and velvety tannins, superbly crafted. This has freshness and balance like I have never seen in Dalmau before. Bravo! It's approachable already and should continue evolving in bottle for a long time too.