Bernabeleva Madrid Arroyo del Tortolas Garnacha 2020

Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tórtolas is a single-vineyard Grenache from 1.2 hectares of 80-year-old vines at 800 metres in the Sierra de Gredos.

The Gredos foothills west of Madrid have become one of Spain's most closely watched sources of high-altitude Grenache, and Bernabeleva farms three single vineyards there. Arroyo del Tórtolas is the steepest, the highest and the only north-facing one, planted on pure granitic sand, the spongy soil known locally as episienita, which is ploughed by horse. Juan Bulnes bought the lower section in 2007 and completed the parcel three years later. Shifting geology and gradient mean the top and bottom are always picked separately, and yields are tiny, roughly two bottles per vine. The grapes are foot-trodden and ferment naturally in upright wooden vats, sometimes for as long as two months, with the proportion of stems set by the year; ageing runs twelve months in 500- and 600-litre barrels, and the wine is bottled unfiltered.

Approachable now and good for a decade. Serve at 16-18°C, or slightly cooler, with roast lamb, duck or a mushroom tart.

*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.