Viña Zorzal Señora de las Alturas Rosado 2024

Vina Zorzal Senora de las Alturas Rosado comes from Proyecto Zorzal, the Saenz brothers' estate in Navarra, where they have built a reputation around old-vine Garnacha. This wine is made entirely from Garnacha Gris, a pink-skinned mutation of Garnacha that lends itself naturally to pale, textured rosé. The vines are old, which keeps yields low and concentrates the fruit, and they sit in Navarra's cooler northern reaches where altitude and a continental climate give cold nights and a long, slow ripening that protects acidity. The defining choice here is the ageing: twelve months in oak barrels, unusual for a rosé. The slow oxygen exchange through the wood softens and broadens the wine, while extended contact with the lees in barrel adds a savoury, nutty depth and a creamy texture. The colour is a pale, slightly coppery pink. The nose shows strawberry and white peach with citrus peel, a touch of vanilla and a dried-herb edge from the oak. The palate is dry, broad and savoury, with almond and a subtle peppery finish. Serve at 10 to 12C in a white wine glass. It suits grilled pork, roast poultry and richer fish.