Fuerza Bruta 2023

The palest, most refined and ethereal of the reds I tasted is the 2023 Fuerza Bruta, the Garnacha from 60-year-old vines on degraded granite soils in the Dehesa de Navayuncosa lieu-dit from the village of Aldea del Fresno in the province of Madrid that is mentioned on the label. It fermented with full clusters, with a 50-day maceration and matured in a French oak foudre and Galician chestnut for eight months. It has contained ripeness and a low 13% alcohol (1% lower than the 2022 I tasted next to it). It's so pale that it could pass for a rosé but has a fragrant nose of rose petals, watermelon, rose hip and hibiscus with a herbal twist and an energetic but terribly elegant palate. It's tasty and herbal, clean, long, focused and delicious, with very fine tannins. This is an incredible bargain for the price. 5,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2024.