La Vadina 2022

Robert Parker

Their youngest red is the 2022 La Vadina, from a very warm and dry summer when they have managed to keep the freshness in the wines—this has a pH of 3.3. The wine has moderate ripeness and alcohol (13.8%, almost 1% lower than the previous year); they harvested looking at acidity rather than ripeness, and they had to sort and select because in the same bunch they had both green and overripe grapes. So, it was a year that required precision and work. This pure unoaked Garnacha comes from 100% purchased grapes from different soils, vine ages and altitudes, all in the village of Almonacid de la Sierra; the grapes were harvested earlier and fermented destemmed in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in concrete for five months. It's primary and fruit-driven, with a floral note and less ripeness than previous vintages despite the natural conditions of the year (it feels like a cool vintage!). It's juicy, primary and fresh, with cleanliness and balance. A bargain.