Lavia 2017

Lavia, an organic wine brimming with Mediterranean character and freshness, is one of the best wines from the region of Murcia. A seductive cherry colour in the bottle leads on to an intense nose blending aromas of red fruit with refreshing balsamic hints of eucalyptus, lavender, liquorice and recently-ground green pepper. Its intense sensation of minerality reminiscent of dusty stones is rounded off with floral aromas of violets. Succulent and fresh in the mouth, it hints at the juiciness of ripe wild fruit. A magnificent but not excessive acidity transmits its altitude (800 metres) and precise ripening process, and elegantly combines the best of the fruit with toasted hints from its well-integrated time in the barrel present over a background of coffee and a creamy feel. The fruit loses a little tension as the wine stands in the glass, before bringing to mind strawberries and red plums. Bay leaves, cinnamon, and undergrowth add fragrance to tasty tannins in this well-balanced wine whose freshness stands out above all else. Whereas old Monastrell vines, almost 50 years old, give structure and depth, a light touch of young Syrah (around 20 years old) provides agility and spicy touches. All in all, a versatile wine with a perfect combination of power and elegance. Its dry finish invites you to drink a little more, as the taste of black olives, so characteristic in only the best Monastrell wines begins to appear. It can be enjoyed immediately but the painstaking work the Bodegas Lavia winery has put into the wine and its lively acidity indicate that Lavia has a great future ahead of it too — if you can wait.