(2023) This blend of Carignan, Grenache and Shiraz comes from Costers de Segre in northern Spain, a place of high altitude, little rain and scorching heat. Hence the name. The wine spends nine to 12 months in French oak, 30% new barrels each year. herbs and dried fruits are the initial impression, some intriguing clove-like spicing and lots of subtle perfume moving from baked plum to floral notes. In the mouth this has quite a singular style: the fruit is relatively high-toned and very much in the red spectrum, elevated acidity and tight, firm but smooth tannins all giving an impression of a wine singing in the upper register, while the background oak spice just grounds the whole picture. An interesting wine try with something like grouse or pigeon perhaps.