Comando G was founded in 2008 by Fernando García and Daniel Landi, two friends who set out to rescue the forgotten old-vine Garnacha of the Sierra de Gredos, the granite mountain range that rises west of Madrid. Working abandoned bush-vine parcels at high elevation by hand, with organic and biodynamic farming, they helped spark a revolution in how the world sees Spanish Garnacha. Their wines are pale, perfumed, and transparent, more often compared to red Burgundy than to the ripe, heady Grenache of the Mediterranean. Like Burgundy, they organize their range by place, from regional wine to village bottlings to single-vineyard crus.

“Villanueva” is a village-level wine from old Garnacha vines around Villanueva de Ávila, in the upper Alberche Valley on the Ávila side of the range. The vines grow in sandy, decomposed granite with quartz at altitude, which keeps the fruit fresh and the acidity bright. Fermentation is spontaneous with a large proportion of whole clusters, and the wine is raised in concrete and large, neutral oak vats so nothing gets between the drinker and the site.

Why You'll Love It

• Benchmark mountain Garnacha with a light, Burgundian frame and real sense of place.
• The nose is lifted and floral, with wild strawberry, pomegranate, orange blossom, and a pinch of white pepper.
• Silky and weightless on the palate, the crunchy red fruit framed by vibrant, high-altitude acidity.
• Fine-grained tannins lead to a finish marked by crushed granite and fresh herbs.
• Endlessly versatile at the table, and a perfect introduction to the Comando G village wines.

How To Serve It

• Serve with a slight chill, between 56°F and 60°F, to keep its fruit bright and lifted.
• A 30-minute decant helps the whole-cluster spice and floral notes open up.
• Pour into Burgundy stems to gather its delicate, high-toned perfume.
• Pair with pork tenderloin glazed with sherry and thyme, grilled quail, or a wild mushroom and Manchego tart.