Carlos Sanchez, 2022 Los Montes Bellos del Buradon 1er Cru, Rioja ($97 per bottle, 3-pack)

$292.60/ 3-bottle case SAVE $44

TA 95: “Montes Bellos is an old-vine field blend of co-fermented Tempranillo and 30% white grapes from an area on the slopes of Labastida known collectively as El Sauco. Aged in old wood, as Carlos Sánchez's wines tend to be, this is an engagingly pure, racy cuvée, all plum, raspberry and wild cherry, crunchy acidity and refined, graceful tannins. 2024-30”

About the producer:

Born in Madrid, Carlos Sánchez cut his winemaking teeth at the Méntrida co-op in Toledo at the time that Garnacha wines from Gredos were taking off. He finally settled in Rioja in 2018, after spending many summers there and starting the 3 Viñerones project with his friends (see below).  

His own project was launched in 2019. He currently owns small plots in Labastida and San Vicente de la Sonsiera. For most of the range he relies on local growers. He prefers limestone soils in medium and high elevation areas above the road along the Sierra Cantabria Mountain range (north of the river Ebro). He fancies himself a wine grower and farms organically with an eye to biodynamics and minimal intervention. According to Luis Gutierrez (The Wine Advocate) “Carlos Sánchez has one of the most exciting young projects in Rioja.”