Bodegas y Vinedos Ponce - Manchuela DO - La Estrecha - Red - 2023

Wine:

Crafted from pure Bobal sourced from vines over 75 years old, planted on granite soils and aged in 600-liter barrels, the 2023 Red Manchuela La Estrecha showcases remarkable finesse and elegance. Its complex, subtle bouquet combines perfectly ripe fruit flavors with hints of spice, gliding over a silky structure with beautifully integrated tannins. Despite its depth and concentration, the wine remains vibrant and wonderfully persistent—a truly exceptional wine, and quite possibly the most refined vintage this cuvée has ever seen. Rated 97/100 by Parker.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. Traditional vinification. Aged for 11 months in 600-litre barrels.

Color:

Intense brilliant ruby red.

Nose:

Intensely fragrant with red and black fruits and a delicate hint of spice.

Palate:

A complex and deep structure with refined tannins.

Temperature:

Serve at 14 to 16°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Mushroom tart, shallot-braised flank steak, veal sauté with chorizo, roast duck with chanterelle mushrooms, roast pigeon with spices.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2030

A rising star of the Spanish wine scene, Juan Antonio Ponce is shaking up the status quo—challenging Rioja with wines that astonish through their freshness and purity. Spotted early by Robert Parker, Ponce works in the Manchuela region near Valencia, and has proven beyond doubt that world-class wines can come from this lesser-known corner of Spain.

Farming organically, reviving native grape varieties, and working with old vines, he brings out the full potential of the Manchuela appellation. While often highly rated by Parker, Ponce remains somewhat under the radar—for now. But his reputation is climbing fast.