Laventura Garnacha 2024

Laventura Wines is the personal project of MacRobert, a South African winemaker who settled in La Rioja after working in his native country and in Priorat, farming just 1.5 hectares with a focus on local varieties and their terroirs. This Garnacha comes from selected old vineyards in Rioja. Garnacha ripens fully on the warm, stony, well drained soils that suit it, producing a generous, fruit driven wine, and at 14.5 percent this is a ripe style with the bright acidity the cooler Rioja sites preserve. The estate farms sustainably. The wine is aged twelve months in 500 litre oak barrels, larger than standard barriques, so the lower ratio of wood to wine allows gentle oxygen exchange to soften the tannins and build texture while keeping oak flavour in the background and the fruit to the fore. The colour is a bright medium ruby. The nose shows wild red berries, cherry and ripe plum over cracked black pepper and wild herbs. The palate is medium to full bodied and generous, with soft ripe tannin, fresh acidity and a warming, spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 17 degrees, with roast lamb, grilled meats or hearty stews.