7 Fuentes El Lance 2017

The red that keeps changing with the vintage is the 2017 7 Fuentes El Lance, which, for the first time, is not dominated by Listán Negro, as the blend is 35% each Vijariego Negro and Listán Negro and the remaining 30% Castellana Negra from five different vineyards (Habanera, Florida, Pencones, Cruz Santa and Diego), where only the Listán is pruned in the braided "cordón trenzado." It fermented in plastic bins and concrete vats with part of full clusters, no temperature control and indigenous yeasts. It matured in a combination of used 500-liter oak barrels and concrete vats. It's only 12.5% alcohol, a little lower than the 2015 and a full 1% less than the 2015. In general, they are aiming at reducing the alcohol percentages of their wines, and the 2017s have less alcohol than the 2016s. That also translates into more freshness in the wine. The palate is austere, with fine tannins and a mineral, dry finish. It's a serious red blend; it's interesting to see how the blending of varieties work so well... 8,000 bottles were filled in July 2018. - Luis Gutiérrez.