Estaladiña

Estaladiña is the name given locally in Bierzo to a slightly darker biotype of Trousseau, the pale red grape from Jura that is also known as Panycarne, Bastardo or Merenzao. The grape is in the process of being admitted by the Bierzo appellation, but in the meantime, the 2016 Estaladiña from Gregory Perez has to be sold without the appellation of origin. It does have the berry fruit, the herbs and spices and the wild twist I see in many wines produced with the grape, here or elsewhere (there are almost no wines yet in Bierzo, but I guess more will come), with perhaps a more Mediterranean touch here. It has a profile sought after lately, perfumed, easy to drink, pleasant and with a medium body and good freshness, clean flavors and no noticeable oak notes. The 2016s seem to have an extra degree of freshness, complexity and elegance. This matured in a 500-liter oak tinaja. Only 830 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2018.