2018 San Lazaro

The bottled 2018 San Lázaro delivered all the promise of the unbottled sample. It's aromatic, fresh and clean, with energy and depth. It comes from a plot of 1.62 hectares planted in 1956 on sand and limestone soils. All the vineyards are vinified the same way, after a one to two-day cold soak, the wine fermented in open-top oak vats with indigenous yeasts for 10-12 days, during which time the grapes are foot trodden, and they do a short pump-over. It matured in barrique for nine months. This is all about finesse and elegance—it's all in the right place, and it's seamless, balanced and harmonious. It's just plain great. A very attractive vintage of San Lázaro. This is clearly Grand Cru quality. 2,000 bottles were filled in June 2020.