2017 Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi Viticultor, Garnacha, Las Uvas de la Ira, Vino del Pueblo, El Real de San Vincente, Sierra de Gredos Valle del Tietar, Mentrida D.O., Spain -photo grapelive

2017 Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi Viticultor, Garnacha, Las Uvas de la Ira, Vino del Pueblo, El Real de San Vincente, Sierra de Gredos Valle del Tietar, Mentrida D.O., Spain.
Dani Landi is one of the most influential winemakers in his region in the high plains and mountains above Spain’s capital, Madrid, in the Sierra de Gredos, one of the hot spots for Garnacha and his wines are highly sought after for the complexity and delicacy they show, like this gorgeous example, the Las Uvas de la Ira. The Gredos is an exciting zone with Landi being one of the ringleaders as well as being part of a winemaking gang known as Comando G with Fernando Garcia, but other top producers here include Alfredo Maestro and 4 Monos, all are well worth searching out, making wines that are old vine authentic, in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape mode, though with a more lighter touch on the alcohol in most cases, though that said this Landi is no light weight at 14.5% and comes across like silky (baby) Chateau Rayas meets Chambolle-Musigny! Dani Landi is a native to the region and was born and raised in Méntrida, where his family has been grape growers here for generations and like almost everyone else sold their grapes to the local cooperative, who Landi still helps out with. Knowing he wanted to express his own vines and personality he started a small winery back in 2012 to do just that and became one of the stars of this unique and ancient wine area that had almost been forgotten. The rise in Gredos seemed to mirror Landi’s releases and his Garnacha Las Uvas de la Ira from the village of El Real de San Vicente being one of his best offerings showing wonderful depth of flavors and a studied finesse that is highlighted in the beautiful pale ruby/garnet hue in the glass and rich detail on the palate.

Landi’s Las Uvas de la Ira Garnacha, from the Méntrida D.O. is fermented using whole cluster with indigenous yeasts in open top French oak casks, and treated like Pinot with gentle hands, then the wine is aged in a combination of foudre, larger, mostly neutral French oak barrels for 12 months, interestingly Landi also is experimenting with terra-cotta with some of his other bottlings seeing a portion that is raised in clay amphorae. The high elevation and cold night make for a long growing season and wonderful development in the grapes, which are about 60 years old set on granitic sands, quartz and freely draining weathered soils, which Landi transmits into the wine with near perfection. A Beautiful energy comes through in the wines, and I would like to think it is because of the purity of terroir and that all the grapes are grown to biodynamic practices, as well as the pop of traditional stem inclusion. The Las Uvas de la Ira Garnacha is highly aromatic with floral tones, mountain herbs, dusty red fruit and an array of spices, this nose leads to a medium body that fills out with macerated cherries, plum, strawberry, pomegranate and red currant fruits along with accents of minty/amaro, licorice, a mineral element, rose/lavender oil, cinnamon and with a light leathery earthiness. The finish echos on and on here with fine grained tannin and a bright cut of acidity pushing the fruit up, giving structure and life here, impressive for Landi’s village bottling. This is stellar wine to celebrate #GrenacheDay or any day! This latest release, imported by European Cellars, is deserving of your attention, especially if you are a Grenachista (Grenache Lover), do not miss it!
($36 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive

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