94 Point, $18 “Pinot”: Spanish New Wave Sensation
Posted on: 02/20/19 8:58 PM
It’s one of the most common stories told today: overlooked appellations, written off by elitists to be produce sub-par wine, is invigorated and brought to life by young, passionate winemakers, thereby turning the world’s opinion upside down. It’s my favorite story, one that never gets old. While Grenache’s historical/spiritual home may be in the South of France, it’s exciting future rests in Spain’s hands. Specifically, the hands and work of Fernando Garcia, who together with Dani Landi, are the creative forces behind Comando G. These two have completely redefined what great Garnacha can be, turning an overlooked appellation of Sierra de Gredos into one of the most thrilling viticulture areas within Spain.
Today we’re offering Mr. Garcia’s and Landi’s outstanding Marañones project. The wine which is composed of 90 % Garnacha and 10% Morate, is fabulous and a terrific value for $18. Born from 30 to 70 year old vines, all of which is farmed organically and handpicked, feels in body and texture like a savory, wild, uninhabited Pinot Noir. It’s fantastic.
2015 Marañones “30,000 Maravedies” Garnacha Vinos de Madrid
“With an intense red fruits nose, and orange peel and delicate spicy notes, this is a very unusual garnacha. In spite of the serious tannins this has an almost silky quality that’s reminiscent of great pinot noir. Drink now.” 94 Points, James Suckling
More About the Wine
The estate is name after an ancient currency once used in Castilla, the story being that 30,000 Maravedíes was the amount paid a local monastery, centuries ago, for the land where Bodega Marañones is now resting on.
Located in the DO of Viños de Madrid in the subzone of San Martín de Valdeiglesias where the Sierra de Gredos meets the Sierra de Guadarrama, Marañones is farmed organically and manually with the assistance of mules due to the steep slopes of their vineyards. Mr. Garcia and Landi outstanding, both of whom trained in Burgundy, smartly recognize it is easy to attain ripeness and that true magic is the work in preserving acidity. This involves painstaking work in the vineyards focused on prolonging the vegetative cycle (as opposed to the fruiting cycle) so that the vines have balanced acidity and tannin. Yields are also kept very low, at 20-30 hl/ha.
A terrific steal for $18, for those in love with aromatic, fresh Garnacha, we urge you to try this new stunner from Marañones.
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