4Kilos, The Island Syndicate, D.O.Mallorca, red wine, 0.75l

The inspiration for this wine was the childhood of one of the founders of the 4Kilos winery. Francesc Grimalt wanted to make a wine that would smell "like his childhood", so he made this wine using natural yeasts he found at the now-defunct Es Sindicat wine cooperative in Felanitx, once a major producer on Mallorca. Grapes from the native varieties Callet (60%), Manto Negro (30%) and Fogoneu (10%) come from vineyards at an altitude of 120 to 180 metres. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and average rainfall of 450 mm a year. The soil is clay-limestone with an abundance of pebbles.  After hand-harvesting and sorting, the grapes are fermented in large-volume stainless steel tanks. The fermentation temperature is kept at 20 °C, and the wine is macerated on the skins for a further 20 days. Ageing takes place over 10 months in different vessels: 40% of the wine is aged in 2,000-litre foudres, 30% in two-year-old 225-litre French oak barrels, and 30% in three-year-old 225-litre French oak barrels. At the end of this process, a wine emerges with the aroma of Mediterranean herbs, cranberries and plums. The flavour is full-bodied, concentrated, with a silky elegance on the palate. The tannins are beautifully integrated and soft. A long-lasting, gentle fruity finish. Light, juicy, crisp and incredibly easy to drink. We recommend serving The Island Syndicate with red and white meat and matured cheeses.