The 2022 La Ínsula from Briones in Rioja Alta is 100% Garnacha aged for one year in Austrian foudres. The highly expressive nose delivers cherry, blood orange, rose petal and subtle spice from the quality time in oak. Light and fresh on the palate, with layered flavors—pomegranate and grenadine—and a texture that builds with finesse, La Ínsula 2022 is a delicate, long-lasting, nuanced Garnacha that doesn’t sacrifice structure, striking a refined balance between ethereality and richness. Elegance is the watchword here. (JH)

The 2022 La Ínsula Garnacha was the palest of the reds in this tasting and the more aromatic and floral, true to the variety, developing some notes reminiscent of cereals with time in the glass. It was sourced from a small ungrafted vineyard registered in 1912 (but probably older) that provides depth, clout and elegance to the wines, perhaps because of the sandy soils. It achieved good ripeness in this warm and dry vintage that was more apt for the Mediterranean grapes, while keeping a low pH of 3.2, denoting freshness. It has very fine, elegant tannins, softer than the majority of 2022s. It fermented with 25% full clusters and indigenous yeasts in a plastic bin and matured in a large Austrian oak cask for one year. Only 730 bottles produced. (LG)