Favourite wines of 2024: Part one
Pequeño 2023
Spanish Wine Collective writers reflect on some favourite bottles they uncorked in 2024. Chris Lynch gets us underway.
Jorge Temprado, Viñedos de la Vilueña - Pequeño 2023
Garnacha Tinta
Available directly from Jorge Temprado
Some would say this was an easy pick, given the day we had as a Collective in the company of Jorge. But for me, it went further, as Jorge’s youthful energy was clearly expressed in the wine. It showed a brightness and verve that I really enjoy, especially in Garnachas.
Microcósmico 2022
Bodegas Frontonio – Microcósmico 2022
Garnacha Tinta
VT Valdejalón
€12.90 from Decántalo
Another Garnacha, oh well. I like them! This was in my top choices for 2024, because even after a decent session, it had so much precision and poise. It had an almost laser focus and cut through the rest of the wines to show its personality and authenticity. A fab wine.
Adrian McManus, our correspondent in Galicia, shares two memorable bottles.
Pedraneira 2023
Eulogio Pomares – Pedraneira 2023
Albariño
D.O. Rías Baixas, sub-zone: Val do Salnés
€23.50 from Coalla Gourmet
Time to don the gumboots, duck-warbler in hand once again, for this Oh I do like to be beside the seaside Val do Salnés Albariño from the master of the oeuvre, Eulogio Pomares. It’s as long as it’s taut, with white stone fruit, nasal-column-tingling grapefruit and a hint of fennel. A stunning Albariño.
Viñas de Gaín 2020
Artadi Viñas de Gaín 2020 accompanied our usual Christmas dinner of roast kid. Another reason for buying it was a doff of the cap to the López Lacalle family at Artadi whom I visited for the first time back in June. It was a definite highlight of an already spectacular bodega tour with four very special clients from Montreal. Ripe though elegant, red fruit to the fore, balsamic notes of eucalyptus and licorice with a silky though vibrant mouthfeel, undoubtedly an enormously enjoyable wine for the Christmas table.