Petit Forlong 2014 14.5%, Bodega Forlong

Appearance

Dense black cherry with only a trace of red in the tight pink rim, legs.

Nose

Beautifully ripe blackcurrant and bramble nose with noticeable and open texture, rich plump, bright and fruity with very little apparent oak but slight traces of smoke, red fruit and rubber from the Syrah nicely balanced with jam from the Merlot and tight black fruit from the Tintilla.

Palate

Quite full bodied and well structured with very good texture, very ripe tannins, lots of fruit and great length. It really shows the quality of wine that Cadiz can produce.

Comments

Incredibe value for money, but as with all wines from this excellent bodega, in rather short supply. It has no DO, probably because it would be too much hassle for a small bodega, but it simply doesn't matter, the wine has great integrity. It is made from 60% Syrah, 30% Merlot and 10% Tintilla grown organically on albariza soil near El Puerto de Santa Maria in what was once a Sherry vineyard. The must is fermented in tinajas and aged in oak barrels for six months before being bottled unfiltered.

Price

7.50 euros from Licores Corredera

Red Wines from the Sherry Zone

Plantations of red grapes in Cadiz have doubled in the last decade, now covering 400 hectares which are producing 20 successful brands of red table wine. This wine which is excellent cannot call itself Sherry, naturally, but goes under the title of Indicacion Geografico Protegido or Vino de la Tierra de Cadiz – as does much white table wine. Of course, with the white wines there is plenty of experience, but the reds are comparatively new, and are still finding their feet.

There is an native red grape, however, grown in Cadiz for centuries, and that is the Tintilla (de Rota). It was almost extinct, covering barely 3 hectares, until it earned a place in the Vino de la Tierra appellation. Tintilla de Rota, a fortified sweet red wine, has all but disappeared (except for Gonzalez Byass releasing one recently), and the grape finds itself in blends. Table wine production has grown roughly in line with Sherry’s decline, and there are reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy in the air which might benefit them.

At the end of 2012, there were about 90 ha of Tempranillo, Syrah 63 ha, Cabernet Sauvignon 60 ha, Merlot 48 ha,Tintilla 23 ha, Petit Verdot 10ha. Garnacha and Cabernet Franc also have a presence. The vineyards are mostly owned by three big companies; Gonzalez Byass, Barbadillo and Taberner, each with around 65 hectares, but there are lots of small yet successful holdings of between 2 and 5 hectares as well. These are helped by the Junta de Andalucia, which gives them not only technical and analytical help via the Viticultural Station, but also experience gained at the Rancho de la Merced and help with paperwork. This help is vital to their success.

See also: The Table Wines of Cadiz