Las Moradas de San Martín La Sabina 2018

La Sabina comes from Las Moradas de San Martin, the Nozaleda Arenas family estate in San Martin de Valdeiglesias, in the Sierra de Gredos within D.O. Vinos de Madrid. The grape is old-vine Garnacha, the variety that has made Gredos one of Spain's most admired sources for the variety. The vineyards sit high on the granite and sandy slopes of the sierra, where altitude and poor, free-draining soils give low yields and a fresher, more perfumed and mineral style of Garnacha than the warm lowland norm; the wide diurnal range holds acidity and aromatic lift. The wine is farmed organically and biodynamically and made with no added sulphur at any stage, a low-intervention approach that keeps the fruit transparent. Fourteen months in French oak rounds the tannin and frames the fruit with a light spice. The colour is medium red. The nose shows red fruit, dried herbs, black pepper and a floral, stony lift. The palate is medium to full bodied, with the ripeness of 15 percent alcohol balanced by fresh acidity, fine tannin and a savoury, liquorice-edged finish. Serve at 16 to 17C, decanting an hour ahead. Good with roast lamb, beef or aged cheese.