P.F 2023

The ungrafted Bobal 2023 P.F. has complexity, elegance and power together with drinkability. It was produced with grapes from 90-year-old vines on sandy soils and fermented with full clusters and indigenous yeasts in 4,500-liter oak vats, where the wine matured for 10 months. This balanced and precise vintage has contained ripeness and alcohol (13%), a pH of 3.6 and 5.7 grams of acidity. This is a wine Ponce has to be very careful with because it can have too much power, the clusters are small and can give concentration and clout. They want to keep the balance, freshness and drinkability throughout its life. The wine is phenomenal and has great precision, plus there's seriousness and complexity, and it's balsamic; you feel the landscape, the Mediterranean herbs, thyme, rosemary and lavender; and it's spicy and has the energy and power with the silkiness of the sandy soils. It has big bones and complexity and is characterful and original. Very harmonious. A steal. 15,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024. A bottle of the 2005, the first vintage, had intense notes of black olives and tapenade and felt very Rhône-ish, very balsamic, with aromas of Mediterranean herbs.

Among the three bobals Ponce makes, this is the spiciest and the most peppery. There are dark mineral, dried herbs and a touch of licorice. Deep, slightly fruity and powerful, with vertical, melted tannins and a long, minerally finish. Drink or hold. (Zekun Shuai)