Carlos Sánchez Los Radales de Buradón 2022

Carlos Sánchez Viticultor makes this red from Tempranillo grown around Buradón in Rioja, farmed under biodynamic and organic methods. The estate sits at the cooler, higher western end of the appellation, where limestone and clay soils and altitude preserve acidity and give the wine its bright, transparent character. The winemaker came to oenology in his thirties after first training to teach, and the style here is built on freshness rather than extraction or oak. Fermentation captures the primary fruit, and the wine spends only one month in barrel, so the wood plays almost no part beyond a brief settling. The result keeps Tempranillo's red fruit and a light, savoury grip intact. The colour is a bright medium ruby. The nose shows fresh red fruits, with cherry and raspberry to the fore, lifted by a musky, slightly herbal note. The palate is light bodied and juicy, with fine tannins, crisp acidity and a clean red-fruited finish touched by earth and pepper. Serve lightly chilled at 14 to 15 degrees. It works well with roast chicken, grilled pork and mushroom dishes.