Libre Y Salvaje, Camino del Bosque, Carinena, 2019

Meaning 'Free and Wild', Libre y Salvaje is the personal project of winemaker Jose Ignacio Mara­n. Based in the town of Almonacid de la Sierra, Jose focuses on high elevation vineyards that are planted to indigenous grape varieties. As the name of the winery suggests, his approach in the cellar is undogmatic and natural. Unafraid to apply traditional techniques which have mostly been forgotten by conventional producers, Jose crafts wines of real character.

Camino del Bosque, a blend of 60% Garnacha and 40% Carinena from the village of Almonacid de la Sierra, the former fermented in stainless steel and the latter in concrete and oak with indigenous yeasts. Thirty percent of the volume was kept in concrete and some 5% in clay pots (tinaja), and the rest in oak barriques and oak vats for a period of 14 months. It's juicy, primary, fruit-driven and quite ripe, with notes of plums and dark berries and Mediterranean herbs. The palate is round and reveals fine tannins, clean flavors and integrated oak. A juicy Mediterranean red.