2016 Bernabeleva "Camino de Navaherreros" Garnacha Vinos de Madrid

This is as elegant an example of Garnacha (a.k.a. Grenache) as you are likely to find. Catalan winemaker Marc Isart Pinos is taking old vines, applying excellent viticultural work, fermenting in foudre (with some whole clusters used, as well as long maceration on the skins for further complexity/elegance), and bottling with a minimum of sulphur to create this beautiful, expressive wine. A good bit more tangy, racy and serious than most Grenache at this price, the Camino de Navaherreros is sure to please those who prefer layered nuance and energetic flavors. Having visited the winery a year ago, and tasted the current release alongside the previous year's (both delicious) I can confidently say that this wine only continues to improve and show more interest for those who wish to lay down a few bottles for several years. The 2012 seems a bit darker fruited, more open, less nervy but still very fresh, when compared to the past few vintages. It's a terrific introduction to what this winery is capapble of achieving with the Garnacha grape! Awesome Grenache--for my money, the best in the store. (Joe Manekin, K&L Spanish wine buyer)