Alfredo Maestro El Marciano 2023

El Marciano is a Garnacha from 70-year-old bush vines growing on granite at around 1,100 metres in the Sierra de Gredos.

The Sierra de Gredos, west of Madrid, has become one of Spain's most closely watched sources of old-vine Garnacha, prized for altitude, granite and a cool mountain climate that keeps alcohol and acidity in balance. Alfredo Maestro's parcels lie at Navarredondilla and San Juan de Molinillo in Ávila, on south-facing slopes where granitic sand sits only centimetres above the bedrock. The fruit was picked by hand in the second week of September and fermented on indigenous yeasts, spending 12 to 15 days on skins with daily pump-overs. Racking and malolactic fermentation took place in stainless steel, after which the wine was moved outdoors to use the harsh mountain winter for natural clarification and cold stabilisation—an old practice that avoids fining and filtration. It was racked once more to settle and bottled the following May with no corrections or additions.

Drinking now and over the next five to six years. Serve at 16–18°C with roast kid, grilled mushrooms or a mild chorizo.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.