Baltasar Gracián Viñas Viejas El Héroe 2024

Baltasar Gracián Viñas Viejas El Héroe is a Garnacha from D.O. Calatayud in Aragón, made by Cooperativa San Alejandro from old bush vines between 60 and 80 years old. The plots sit high in the mountains, between 800 and 1,000 metres, on stony soils with natural drainage. Altitude is the key here, the cold nights and wide day to night temperature range slow ripening and lock in freshness, perfume and acidity in Garnacha, a grape that easily turns heavy and high in alcohol in warmer sites. The old vines crop little, around 3,000 kilos per hectare, which concentrates the fruit, and the stony ground keeps vigour in check. The grapes are harvested in early October and fermented in stainless steel before the wine spends ten months in French oak, where gentle oxygen exchange rounds the tannins and adds a measured spice. The colour is a bright cherry red. The nose shows a mix of red and black fruit, with raspberry and sweet cherry over dried herbs, liquorice and a peppery lift, and the palate is fresh and warm with ripe fruit, fine tannin and a long, spiced finish that keeps its lift despite the ripeness. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees. It suits grilled lamb, beef and pork.