Viticola Mentridana 2021 El Mentridano Gredos Garnacha

The 2021 El Mentridano was produced with Garnacha grapes from the family in the village of Méntrida (and therefore not Gredos) on sandstone granite soils, producing a light and approachable style through fermenting the full clusters with a very short maceration and an élevage in 3,000- and 3,700-liter foudres for seven months. It's quite open and appley, with hints of herbs and red berries. It's a warmer zone than Gredos, and the wine is ripe without excess with 14.3% alcohol and a pH of 3.4. It has less grip than the wines from Gredos but is balanced through the shorter maceration.

Score: 91 points -- Luis Gutierrez, The Wine Advocate, 2023