Las Aldeas de Galia 2023

The very young 2023 Las Aldeas de Galia, which used to be called Villages ("aldea" is the Spanish word for village) was just bottled when I tasted it, and it showed all the baby fat that should be rendered with a little more time in bottle. It comes from old vineyards in different villages in the province of Soria that are planted with field blends that come to something like 80% Tempranillo, 15% white Albillo and then a myriad of varieties, red and white, like Bobal, Garnacha, Alicante Bouschet, Pirulés, etc. It has 13.8% alcohol and contained ripeness and is very primary, fruit-driven and juicy, with a tender palate, round tannins and integrated acidity. It finishes with a slight herbal and faintly bitter twist. It matured in concrete and 600-liter French oak barrels. 6,600 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2024. - Luis Gutiérrez.