El Hombre Bala Albillo 2024

El Hombre Bala is a project of Uvas Felices, the Vilaviniteca initiative, made in partnership with Comando G in the Sierra de Gredos west of Madrid. Fernando Garcia and Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi built their reputation on high-altitude granite sites, and this Albillo Real comes off the same decomposed granite soils within the Vinos de Madrid appellation. Altitude is the defining factor here: cold mountain nights preserve acidity and aromatic detail, while the sandy granite gives a lean, saline frame and keeps the wines light on their feet. The 2024 was picked early, in August, to catch ripeness before the fruit turned heavy, holding the wine fresh rather than rich. It is aged on its fine lees, which adds a subtle breadth of texture and helps carry the flavour without any oak. The wine is pale with a green tint. The nose shows white peach, lemon and white flowers over a savoury wild herb note, and the palate is light bodied and tightly mineral, with a salty, chalky finish. Serve chilled at 9 to 11 degrees. It works with shellfish, grilled white fish, roast chicken and green salads.