Bodegas Bernabeleva

On the Eastern edge of Spain’s Sierra de Gredos Mountains, an ambitious doctor, named Vincente Avarex-Villamil, purchased land back in 1923, planting vines on a site believed to be one of the finest in the region for Garnacha, with a dream of producing profound and characterful wines. Unfortunately, with the Spanish Civil War erupting in 1936, that dream was never fully realised. However, in 2006, Vincent’s great grandchildren, Juan and Santiago, set about trying to recapture their ancestor’s dream. Blown away by the quality of the fruit from these now 80-year-old vineyards, Juan and Santiago were determined to show the potential of their historic family holdings. With many of the vineyards situated at over 500m, the temperature variations throughout the day and night, are extreme and the resulting wines are unlike anything else in Spain, with ample ripeness but also astounding buoyancy and freshness. Seeking the purest expression possible, they employ very natural, non interventionalist methods, limiting the use of SO2, practising organic and biodynamic viticulture and choosing not to fine or filter their wines. The Navaherreros Garnacha is stunning, with wild sweet berry fruit dominating the nose, with hints of spice, herb, graphite and salinity. A silky smooth entry leads on to full bodied flavours of sweet cherry, raspberry and nutmeg. Despite the big flavours, this is still lovely and fresh, with a long finish and fine tannins.