San Román Garnacha, D.O. Toro, red wine, 0,75l The San Román Garnacha grapes come exclusively from Pago de los Almendros. A red wine with a distinctive and intense aroma and flavour, it brings notes of red fruit and a subtle minerality.

When Mariano García arrived in the province of Toro, the Garnacha vineyards were almost non-existent. It was 1997 and at that time, when Mariano, who was already in charge of Bodegas Mauro, was trying to start his second Bodegas San Román project in the area, winemakers were uprooting Garnacha vineyards that had traditionally been blended with other varieties. In some places, the Garnacha variety was even called La Tapada (the hidden one), because the general tendency was to hide it and not show it on the bottle labels. Fortunately, thankfully, winemakers have managed to work the variety and make the most of it, producing excellent single varietal wines that have even enforced some laws. This is what happened in the case of the latest D.O. Toro reform, where single varietal Garnacha wines come under the heading of this appellation (as long as they contain 85% of this variety). Bodega San Román was the first to respond to this change with its San Román Garnacha red wine.

San Román Garnacha has become a revelation; as such, it has been recognised by the Peñín guide. They always say that luck is important, but perhaps it is best to be in the right place at the right time. That was the case with this red wine, which came to hear and silence the pleas and requests of lovers of the Garnacha variety. It would not have been possible without the vision that Mariano had at the time when, instead of being swept away by the inertia of the majority, he correctly preserved and conserved 2 hectares of Garnacha, which he has now expanded to 15 hectares (16% of the variety in the entire denomination). Today, the winery has a total of 140 hectares, spread over San Román de Hornija, Villaester and Morales de Toro.

The San Román Garnacha grapes come exclusively from Pago de los Almendros, an old vineyard of 1,4 hectares (planted in 1964) located in El Monte at an altitude of 710 metres. In this area, the soils are loose, stony or sandy and the clay subsoil retains water, so that the vines find relief in hot summers and dry periods. These plots are part of a total of 130 hectares of organic vineyards that have been completely converted to biodynamic.

The grapes of the San Román Garnacha variety are harvested by hand after the initial selection of the grapes in the vineyard. After being placed in 15 kg boxes, the grapes are placed in a cooler where they are cooled and prepared to pass through the selection table where the best berries are again selected. From there, the San Román Garnacha is moved by gravity directly to the various tanks where the whole grapes begin to ferment spontaneously with local yeasts and the skins are gently crushed by hand. And that's all. Finally, San Román Garnacha is transferred into 500 litre French and American oak barrels, where it is aged for 20 months, becoming a wine that is sought after and anticipated.

A red wine with a distinctive and intense aroma that initially shows notes of ripe red fruit. As it opens up, some notes of blue and violet flowers are apparent and the fruit gradually gives way to aromas of black fruit. There is also a wide range of spicy and toasty aromas. Mineral notes appear in the background and gradually increase in intensity. Rich aromas, lots of nuances.

In the mouth, this wine has a powerful entry that gradually gains sophistication . It delivers a load of juicy and fleshy fruit notes, very integrated and crisp acidity and ripe and juicy tannins. Very long and persistent finish.

This wine is recommended to serve with spicy dishes, red meat, stews, legumes.