Numanthia 2018

Numanthia is one of the most intense wines in Spain, but also one of the most elegant ones. It is not only the reference wine for the Bodega Numanthia winery, but also an iconic wine among all wines from Zamora or even Spain. Meticulous work on the vineyards the winery cultivates within the hundred hectares it owns in the Toro appellation, results in a wine of contrasts, a superb and rounded red wine. The vines are original ungrafted (pie franco) plants, between 50 and 120 years old, which explains the balance of the fruit they give. The vines are not irrigated, surviving on the scarce rain water they receive, leading to small and concentrated grapes. The Numanthia wine has an intense picota cherry colour, as with other great Zamora reds, but its ruby glints promise a refreshing, fruity wine — with plentiful wild red fruit aromas. The time it ages in barrels provides its roundness, concentration, and aromas of spices such as cloves. After a few minutes in the glass, you notice hints of ripe cherries and tobacco leaves, alongside liquorice and even toasty notes evoking memories of recently-roasted coffee beans. Firm but not aggressive on tasting; juicy but balanced. The sand and stones of the vineyard soils are felt through deep but polished tannins. Long and wide in equal parts, Numanthia fills the mouth with a multitude of tactile and aromatic sensations which linger some time after your last sip. Traces of warm spices, like vanilla and cinnamon, and a faint touch of smoke, embellish this wine's farewell.