Baltasar Gracián El Político 2025

Baltasar Gracián El Político is a young Garnacha from Bodegas San Alejandro in D.O. Calatayud, in the Aragón highlands of north-east Spain. It is made entirely from Grenache grown on vines between twenty and thirty-five years old, planted in a continental, high-altitude climate where stony, slate-influenced soils and a wide day-to-night temperature range concentrate sugar and colour while holding onto acidity. The wine ferments in stainless steel tanks for twenty to twenty-five days at a controlled 24 to 26 degrees, a long, cool maceration that draws out colour and supple tannin while protecting the fresh fruit aromatics. Without any oak ageing, the wine shows pure varietal character. The colour is deep, bright purple-red. The nose is open and fruit driven, with ripe raspberry, plum and cherry lifted by black pepper, liquorice and a wild-herb note. The palate is full bodied and warming at fifteen per cent, with round tannins, juicy red fruit and a savoury, peppery finish. This is a wine to drink young while the fruit is at its most vivid. Serve at 15 to 17 degrees. It pairs well with grilled meats and hearty stews.