Navaherreros Garnacha de Bernabeleva 2022, Vinos de Madrid DO, Spain

Bernabeleva – Here, on the eastern edge of Spain’s Sierra de Gredos Mountains, a renowned Madrid doctor named Vincente Alvarez-Villamil purchased land in 1923. The site, which at that time was a full day’s travel from Madrid, spoke of its Celtic past, with ancient bears carved from boulders to mark forests dedicated to the hunt goddess. But the estate, which Vincente named Bernabeleva, or bear’s forest, held more than just an ancient history – it was, he believed, a special place to plant the noble Garnacha (Grenache) a place whose wines might exhibit profound character. Navaherrerros is a red wine made from Grenache grapes from every vineyard in the estate. Through different soils, orientations and microclimates, it expresses San Martin de Valdeiglesias’ terroir. The ages of the vines range from 40 to 80 and planting densities from 1,900 to 2,200 vines per hectare. Vineyards are manually harvested. Vinification takes place in wood, stainless steel or concrete tanks, depending on the features of the grapes, for each site is vinified and aged separately. This wine is aged in 2nd and 3rd passage oak barrels.