Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra 2022

Pegaso Barrancos de Pizarra is a Garnacha made by the Compañía de Vinos Telmo Rodríguez in D.O. Cebreros, in the Sierra de Gredos of Castilla y León. The project of Telmo Rodríguez and Pablo Eguzkiza set out to recover forgotten old vineyards across Spain, and Pegaso draws on old Garnacha planted on the steep slate slopes that give the wine its name, barrancos de pizarra meaning slate ravines. Slate is poor and free-draining, forcing the vines deep and yielding small, concentrated berries, while the altitude of Gredos brings cool nights and a wide day to night temperature swing that preserves acidity and aromatic detail even at 14.5 percent alcohol. The wine is aged for thirty months in 500-litre French oak barrels. The larger format gives a lower wood-to-wine ratio and slow oxygen exchange, softening tannin and adding subtle spice and smoke without overt oak. The colour is deep ruby. The nose shows red berry and plum over black pepper, liquorice, smoke and a stony, slate-driven minerality. The palate is full and structured, with firm fine tannin, fresh acidity and a long mineral finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant. It suits roast lamb and game.