Pancrudo 2022

One of the best new Garnacha bottlings from Rioja, the 2022 Pancrudo keeps the poise, balance and floral character in a warm and dry year like 2022. It does show a little more ripeness and some dusty tannins, but that's expected after the hurried ripeness. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.42 denoting freshness. It's a triumph over the adverse conditions of the year. This is a neoclassical Garnacha, produced by fermenting the uncrushed grapes with indigenous yeasts and a short-ish macerating and aging the wine in a combination of foudre, concrete egg and used barrique. 8,717 bottles and 250 magnums produced. It was bottled in June 2024. (Luis Guitérrez) 

Minerally and spicy, but not as peppery as the 2021. Hibiscus, chalk, vibrant berries and plums. Abundant, chalky tannins, with a medium to full body and a long, tense finish. Drink from 2025. (Zekun Shuai)