Mary Taylor/Pedro González Mittelbrunn Castilla y León (Prieto Picudo) | 2022

A collaboration project between American, Mary Taylor and winemaker, Pedro González Mittelbrunn, this is a pure expression of Léon’s local red grape, Prieto Picudo. Instrumental in reviving native old vines, Pedro is the Prieto Picudo whisperer. The vineyards are in “El Patamao,” a high 850-meter plain in the northern sector of the Duero River basin in the greater Castilla y Léon region, where the soils are a mix of clay, pebbles, and gravels of poor fertility. Some of the vines in this bottle are 100 years-old, planted in an unusual style called “Rastra,” where the branches lie on the ground. Fermented and aged in stainless steel, this is a great snapshot of Prieto’s Picudo’s quirky personality. It reminds me of a Loire red blend with its prickly green and purple spices, red and black fresh fruits, and silky mouthfeel. At 13% it feels light, versus medium, and drinks best with a chill. A well-made wine with plenty of safe quirks, Mary Taylor continues to put value and wine fun on the table. ~Allegra A