Bodegas Marañones Garnacha | 2021

Marañones makes exuberant French-like expressions of Garnacha from the foothills of the Gredos Mountains, about an hour drive heading west from Madrid. Here, granite and sandy soils soar over 800 meters and small plots of old stumpy vines mimic a mosaic. Macerated with their stems, the clusters ferment in older foudres as well as stainless steel tanks. Aged for fifteen months, again in foudres (1,000 to 5,000 liters) and concrete, the wine is bottled with just enough sulfur to zipper up its freshness. The fruit quality is intense and brambly, pitch-perfect blue and red, then comes the candied flowers and pink spice, reminiscent of a top-tier Morgon. If you've enjoyed the wines of Commando G, Bernabeleva, or 4 Monos, add Marañones to your list. ~Allegra A