Can Vich Cabernet Sauvignon

The 15 year-old vines used for the production of this Can Vich Cabernet Sauvignon originate from Cases Noves, a small village in the Alt Penedés located at over 500 metres above sea level, between the municipalities of Mediona and La Llacuna. There the vineyards are divided up into small scattered parcels, shaping a diverse estate that enables each Can Vich wine to have a character and history of its own.

The Cabernet Sauvignon, along with the Parellada, is a variety which is harvested later. Owing to the altitude and the resultant slow maturation, the harvest is usually put off until October, although in warmer years it's brought forward to the end of September. In the early years it proved difficult to achieve a good maturity of the grapes, despite being planted on one of the estate's poorest soils and well-orientated to take advantage of the sun's rays. Over time, short and green pruning, and patience as regards picking the grapes have allowed perfect maturity to be reached. In the winery, Lluís Vich and his family are extremely careful with macerations to avoid extracting excessive tannins which may break the wine's organoleptic balance; thus, this process doesn't normally last beyond two weeks, with a daily manual pigeage. To the same end, they work without pumps in order to avoid the wine undergoing any aggressive movement and only employing used barrels so as not to make too much impact.

Knowing all these details it's easy to understand why this Cabernet doesn't show signs of inadequate ripening and, at the same time, maintains a fantastic acidity. It's rounded and complex, proudly Mediterranean, but not unbalanced or too alcoholic as a result. After medium density, denoting a restrained and well-contemplated production process, the wine presents aromas of red fruit, wild strawberries, enhanced by menthol and laurel touches. On the palate it's fluid and elegant, proving intense through the retronasal passage, with notes of fruit in liqueur and smoke. Its aftertaste is awash with fine oak and earthy hints.

The only trouble with this great Cabernet is its production run, limited to little more than 700 bottles.