Bernabeleva 2021 Garnacha, Arroyo del Tortolas, Vinos de Madrid DO

Bernabeleva 2021 Garnacha, Arroyo del Tortolas, Vinos de Madrid DO

Item Number: 19218

UPC: 8-437011795434

Country: Spain
Region: Madrid
Sub Region: Sierra de Gredos
Appellation/AVA: Vinos de Madrid DO
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vineyard Designation: Arroyo del Tortolas
Vintage: 2021
Grape(s): 100% Garnacha
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 15
Viticulture: Practicing Biodynamic
Soil Type: Granite
Elevation: 800 meters

Terroir Notes: San Martín de Valdeiglesias lies in the foothills of the Sierra de Gredos, at the northwestern corner of Viños de Madrid. Located at high elevation, with a large diurnal shift and granite/schist/sandy soils, the estate produces elegance, mineral, and perfumed Garnacha. Viticulture is organic, with a strong biodynamic influence. Harvesting is done by hand, as they have a devotion to demanding ecological viticulture and to non-interventionist winemaking.

Vineyard Notes: Arroyo del Tórtolas is a parcel selection. The vineyard is a narrow north-facing 1.2 hectare steep hillside. The vines are 65 years old. The granitic soil is shallow and poor in organic matter. The team must harvest the parcel in two stages due to the changing features of the soil along the slope, as it gets closer to the Tórtolas stream. This plot is one of the first to ripen for the estate. The vines are worked manually. The soil is tilled with contributions of manure produced by Bernabeleva's own cows. The only treatments used (only when absolutely necessary) are a dust of copper and sulfur. Pruning is done following the lunar cycle.

Winemaking Notes: Vinification takes place in wooden tanks with a percentage of stems that depends on the vintage. Up to 100% whole bunches are crushed by foot treading and fermented/macerated up to 45 days. Fermentation occurs spontaneously with indigenous yeast. 25-60 day skin maceration is employed. The wine ages for a year in a mix of used French 225 to 600 liter barrels. Malolactic fermentation takes place in the barrels. The wine is bottled without fining or filtering.

Reviews

  • The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 94+ (5/31/2023)
    There is more complete ripeness in the 2021 Arroyo del Tórtolas, which shows a darker hue than the 2020 I tasted next to it. It has more clout, full development of aromas and flavors and 15% alcohol, but it also has more acidity and a livelier palate, with a stony, chalky sensation, fine tannins and a long, dry and clean finish. This is still a little austere and backward. They also produced a little more, with four 500-liter barrels maturing until bottling in April 2023. 2,500 bottles produced.

    Bernabeleva is a notable property in San Martín de Valdeiglesias in Gredos, with 35 hectares of 70+-year-old vines and five more hectares planted 15 years ago. They have a wide range of labels that total around 95,000 bottles per year. The vineyards are certified organic, but the wines do not carry the certification. 2020 was a short crop of wines with volume and not as sharp as they were expecting. 2021 delivered wines with less alcohol and ripeness, lighter wines that represent the last vintage of winemaker Marc Isart, who left after that harvest. 2022 represents their largest crop to date, a year with a warm and dry summer when the young vines suffered, but the old vineyards behaved quite well and delivered balanced wines.
  • Vinous
    Rating: 93 (2/8/2024)

    "The 2021 Garnacha Arroyo del Tortolas is sourced from a single vineyard planted in Gredos. It was fermented with whole-clusters and aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. A bright ruby-red, its herbal nose also offers sour cherry and oaky notes, with hints of aniseed. Dry and refreshing, this modern, tasty Garnacha has a lean flow. Delicate tannins create a cleansing, lasting finish." - Joaquín Hidalgo