WTN: A Child of Salem

Jose L. Ferrer Pedra de Binissalem Negre 2009

A quick taste would suggest that this isn't quite as spoofy as the couple other Mallorcans I have tried. 14,96e; 14,5% abv; 50% Mantonegro & 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. 6 months in French and American oak. Despite quite plentiful oak aromas and upfront fruit the wine ends up seeming quite fresh and light on its feet and has a lovely wildness that isn't - gladly - quite successfully tamed. Lovely, dark, tangy fruit, again a little bit wild but it seems like the Cabernet and oak try to tame it. Very fresh finish, mineral even. I actually quite like this wine despite my usual aversion to oak and Cabernet (will I now be kicked off this bored?). But I can't help thinking that I would have liked it more with less of them. I prefer wildness and character to tameness and familiarity.

So who makes unspoofy wines in Mallorca from the autochthonous varieties?

And a question for the Spanish speakers: in the word "Binissalem", which vowels are long and/or stressed? I'm trying to figure out the etymology from Arabic but since I don't know Spanish, I can't decide whether it is Children of Peace or Children of Salîm.

Most likely children of peace. I think Salem is a contraction for Jeruslaem only in Anglo-Saxon culture.

Most likely children of peace. I think Salem is a contraction for Jeruslaem only in Anglo-Saxon culture.

I wasn't thinking of Jerusalem. I was thinking of the Arabic name Salîm, often spelled Salem, which means "safe". So, Children of Safety or Children of Peace?

Binissalem, a wine district located just north of Palma de Mallorca (Balearic Islands) is a Catalan (not Spanish, i.e. castilian) place name derived from Arabic (whom the Catalans conquered in 1229 upon occupying Mallorca): Bini 'son of' and Salem (an Arabic given name). It originally designated the land owned by the 'Son of Salem.' The pronunciation of this toponym is, in pseudo-phonetic transcription, approximately: Bee-nee-sah-'lehm. In the local Catalan dialect of Mallorca it is closer to Bee-nee-suh-'lehm. I've been there many times.
You might also enjoy a very interesting red blend from there produced by Macià Batle, a crianza with Mantonegro, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The 2007 is delicious! Salut/Cheers.

What makes you call this wine spoofed (besides the oak)?
In any case, I have a bottle of Vinyes i Vins Ca Sa Padrina Binissalem-Mallorca Mantonegro which I will try soon. I think it is mostly manto negro and callet and I don't think it sees any oak.

The red wines from the Felanitx area (Pla de Llevant) of Mallorca (= eastern region) can be extraordinary although a bit expensive. I'm thinking specifically of Ànima Negra (mostly callet) or its not-so-"little brother" An2. Both are generally great examples of the wines able to be produced in Mallorca.

In any case, I have a bottle of Vinyes i Vins Ca Sa Padrina Binissalem-Mallorca Mantonegro which I will try soon.

We knew if anyone would, you would.