La Comarcal del Moro Tinto 2024

Javi Revert is one of those winemakers who can't sit still. His main project is one thing, but La Comarcal is the side thing he does with a friend, a project that keeps getting pulled back toward Font de la Figuera, this tiny village in Valencia where the grapes just taste better. They used to source grapes from other places for this wine, bu now it's all Font de la Figuera, all the time.

This 2024 is their village bottling, a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc, 25% Monastrell, 25% Arcos, which is basically a local grape you've never heard of and probably never will again. The vintage was tricky, lower yields, rain at the end of summer, but the wines have more clout because of it. They fermented each variety separately, half with whole clusters, in stainless steel. Then six months in the same tanks to let everything settle.

The wine is fresh and juicy but serious. The Cabernet Franc brings this herbal, balsamic thing, wild herbs and a little green peppercorn energy, while the Monastrell and Arcos keep it grounded in red berries and Mediterranean scrub. It's fine-boned, medium-bodied, tight. The tannins are there but they're polite, more like structure than grip.

Drink it with anything off the grill, or a plate of jamón.