Viticola Mentridana 'El Mentridano' Garnacha 2023

The pale and ethereal 2023 El Mentridano has an herbal freshness (fig leaves), bright red fruit and floral aromas and a much more balanced palate and finer tannins. This is the effect of the cooler (or less warm) year, as they did similar vinification: 100% full clusters (they do not have a destemmer) fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts with a short maceration (to keep the fruit) and matured in those large vats (10,000 liters) and some foudres for around 10 months. It has contained ripeness and lower alcohol (14%) but especially great balance. 20,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024. 92+ points, drink 2024-2029, Luis Gutierez, The Wine Advocate, July 2024.