Alfredo Maestro, El Marciano Garnacha 2022

Alfredo Maestro's "El Marciano" is the fruit of 70 year old bush vine Garnacha from granite soils high in the Sierra de Gredos south of Avila. Alfredo farms organically and biodynamically and handles the fruit with as little intervention as possible.

Grapes harvested by hand; crushed/pressed but not destemmed. Each plot was fermented separately in stainless steel tanks using their own native yeast. No corrections or additions to the must, daily pump-overs, and 20 days of maceration. Racking and start of malolactic fermentation also in stainless steel tanks; then the wine is taken outside, where the cold of winter clarified and stabilized the wine naturally, after which the wine is racked to remove solids or impurities before bottling at the optimum time and conditions of clarity and stability. Nevertheless, it is normal and possible for tiny particles to appear in the bottle during the lifetime of the wine, given the natural style of winemaking used in the processing.

The Maestro Tejero winery in Penafiel was born in 1998 in the heart of the Ribera del Duero. From 2000 to 2006 the winery grew, gradually adding other plots in Castrillo de Duero, Olmos de Penafiel, Quintanilla de Arriba, Bocos de Duero, Olmedillo de Roa, and Arauzo de Salce. In 2007 the search for land on higher ground leads to the discovery of land in Valtiendas nearly 1,000 meters above sea level with old tempranillo vineyards planted on soils with boulders. The diversity of plants and soils give the wines a unique, distinct personality.