Bodegas y Vinedos Ponce - Manchuela - P.F - Rouge - 2021

Wine:

Crafted from 90-year-old pre-phylloxera vines, the 2021 red P. F Manchuela is a marvel of a red wine that showcases the local bobal grape to perfection. Opening with a ripe and fresh nose, concentrated yet delicate, it reveals beautiful notes of stone fruits, wild blackberry, and blue plum. The palate is remarkable, juicy, and elegant, expressing the great finesse and freshness of the grape with a vibrant black fruit core accented by spices and a subtle oakiness (aging is done in 600-liter French oak barrels). The present tannins, slightly pronounced, are buoyed by ample energy and depth and will integrate seamlessly over time. A magnificent bottle! Rated 95/100 by Parker.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. Vines around 90 years old. 100% indigenous yeasts. Aged 10 months in 600-liter French oak barrels. No filtration.

Certified organic wine.

Color:

Intense red with carmine highlights.

Nose:

Fresh, ripe and concentrated, with lovely notes of pit fruit and blue plum.

Palate:

Juicy, elegant and of great finesse, this wine offers remarkable freshness, the tannic structure is present and will coat perfectly over time.

Temperature:

Serve between 14 and 16°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Mushroom tart, flank steak with shallots, sautéed veal with chorizo, roast duckling with chanterelles, roast pigeon with spices.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2030

Juan Antonio Ponce, the new icon of the Spanish vineyard, challenges Rioja with his wines that are astonishing in their freshness and purity. Noticed by Robert Parker from his first vintages, Ponce operates in the Manchuela region, near Valencia, brilliantly proving that it's possible to produce top-quality wines in this area.

Practicing organic farming, revitalizing indigenous grape varieties, and relying on old vines, he elevates the Manchuela appellation. Often highly rated by "Parker," he remains somewhat under the radar, yet his reputation continues to soar!