Manin Las Olvidadas del Oeste 2024

Manin y sus Muchachos is the project of Sancho Rodriguez and Angela Zozaya, built around century-old Garnacha vines clinging to steep, unmechanisable terraces in the Sonsierra of Navarra. Rather than work within an official denomination, they bottle this as organic table wine. The old vines are deep-rooted and low-yielding, which concentrates the fruit and lends balance, while the slopes and the altitude give cool nights that hold the acidity and keep the wine fresh despite the warm climate, showing in a moderate 13.5% alcohol. The wine is made naturally, with minimal intervention, fermented on wild yeast and kept in inert vessels rather than new oak so the Garnacha fruit and the character of the site come through clearly and unadorned. The colour is a bright, medium red, the nose shows red cherry, raspberry and wild herbs over a stony note, and the palate is fresh and supple, the fine tannins set against lively acidity through a clean finish. Serve at 15 to 16C, lightly chilled if you prefer. It suits grilled meats, charcuterie and roast vegetables.