La Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo 2022

La Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo is a red from VT Ribera del Queiles in Aragon, part of the Garnachas de Espana collection and made by Proyecto Garnachas de Espana. The grapes come from old vines of more than fifty-five years grown on the northern face of the Moncayo, in slate and pebble soils with very cold winters. That altitude and the cold northern exposure give a wide diurnal range that holds acidity and fixes the perfume of old-vine Garnacha, while the poor stony soils keep yields low and the fruit concentrated. The grapes are picked in the last week of October. Fermentation is traditional, beginning in stainless steel below twenty-five degrees with a maceration of around fourteen days to draw out colour and supple tannin. The wine is then aged five months in French oak, a short ageing that rounds the tannins through gentle oxygen exchange while keeping the fruit fresh and unmasked. The colour is bright cherry red. The nose shows wild raspberry and strawberry, ripe cherry and plum over black pepper, dried herbs and a stony, mineral edge. The palate is medium to full bodied and fresh, with ripe fruit, fine tannins and a peppery finish. Serve at 16 degrees. It suits grilled lamb and red meats.