2015 Alfredo Maestro, Rosado de Lagrima “Amanda” Castilla y Leon, Spain.
The all organic and delicately beautiful Rosado Amanda comes from 60 year old Alicante Bouschet grown at 850 meters up in the Ribera del Duero region of Spain on clay and calcareous soils. Alfredo Maestro’s small lot artisan wines are some of the most interesting in Spain and he is part of a new wave of young winemakers that are the new Spain, making terroir and traditional/historical influenced wines, his wines are playful and soulful with pure character and seriously pleasing on the palate. This vintage of Amanda Rosado by Alfredo Maestro is the best yet with it’s super pale pinkish hue and detailed finesse and charms, fermented with native yeasts with subtle skin contact and no sulfur added, this vat raised pink wine has vibrant strawberry, white and red tangy cherry and mineral notes leading the way with hints of white pepper, wet stone as well as zesty red peach and citrus, along with a whiff of rosewater and vine picked raspberry. The cool nights allow the Alicante Bouschet’s (Garnacha Tintorera as it is known in Spain) acidity to flourish and with the heat of the summer it can be picked very early for this Rose style wine. Maestro’s natural techniques have gained worldwide acclaim, there is never any additives or sulfur used, all the work is focused on the vines and preserving the freshness and true varietal core. The 2015 Amanda Rosado is a wonderful expression and a fine example of everything that Maestro is trying to capture, this is a wine that can be enjoyed all year long and in any season as well as with lots of cuisine choices, but it is perfect for our warm fall days plus it makes for a perfect starter wine for the holiday meals to come, be sure to check it out, imported by Farm Wines and Jose Pastor Selections.
($24 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive