Aseginolaza & Leunda, Navarra (Spain) “Birak” 2023 ($23)

Jon Aseginolaza and Pedro Leunda met in high school in San Sebastian, majored in biology at the University of Navarra, and made their first wine in 2016. They began with a small plot of old vine Garnacha in and now work with 4 hectares, specializing in Grenache-based wines. Birak is old vine Grenache blended with 10% Tempranillo. Fermentation is by native yeasts in stainless steel, and only the Tempranillo is aged in neutral French oak. Bottled unfiltered, the resulting wine is deep and dark in color and has an expansive aroma of fresh raspberries with a back splash of violets. Big, round, and mouth filling, the wine charms you with its old vine velvety texture. The finish remains focused on lively black fruit. Not subtle, but delicious.
92 Norm Roby