La XARA Garnacha 2021 [WA 93] [JS 93]

DO Mancuelo

Wine Advocate 93 points.

The 2021 La Xara is the latest bottled vintage of their pure Garnacha from a vineyard that benefited from the extra rain from the year and ripened slowly to perfection. They think they achieved more Garnacha typicity here but keeping the freshness and fluidity. It's only 12.5% alcohol and has a mellow 3.6 pH and five grams of acidity. The full clusters fermented in 4,500-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in 600-liter barrel and 10,000-liter oak vats with the fine lees for seven months. This is austere and serious, with a reticent nose, contained ripeness and a sharp and mineral palate more in the style of a Garnacha from Gredos. 15,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2022.

James Suckling 93 points.

"Fresh and ripe brambly fruit with some grilled herbs, stones and racy red berries. Textured and mineral on the pure, bright and linear palate with flower and fruit notes coming through. A very engaging garnacha that I would drink glass after glass. From organically grown grapes."