2015 Jimenez Landi Pielago

Jiménez Landi Pielago is a red wine from the Castilla La Mancha region - in Spain. Made by the Jiménez Land winery. 100% Grenache organically produced by Jimenez Landi raised on French oak. Great wine with notes of smoked wood, black cherry and blackberries and a minute-long finish. Only around 5000 bottles are made of the Pielago every year, so it is always important to be quick. Highly recommended for lovers of good Grenache wine.

Serve in a burgundy glass

The Jiménez-Landi family has been making wine from ancient Garnacha vines since time immemorial. However, it was in 2004 that Daniel and José, two cousins, started their adventure. They decided to recover the vieilles vignes from their appellation, Méntrida, often planted on slopes and difficult to reach, and especially to bring the Garnacha to the highest level.

Daniel received his education at the University of Madrid as an oenologist in 2005, but according to him, mainly because of the many trips and visits he undertook to other wine regions in France and other countries. The many conversations he had with other winemakers from other countries made him realize more and more that he had something unique in his native region. In a few years he learned a lot.
His search for always old and interesting vineyards Garnacha, drove him to other villages of the Sierra de Gredos (this is the mountain range southwest of Madrid). In 2006 he found here the highest vineyards of the Méntrida appellation in El Real de San Vicente, in the Tiétar valley. Here he would create his 'grand cru's': Ataulfos, Cantos del Diable, Fin del Mundo (later changed to The End due to brand name problems). He also found a top vineyard in Avila; in 2007 he made the first Reventón with Raúl Pérez in the village of Cebreros. In 2008, together with his two friends oenologists Marc Isart (Bernabeleva) and Fernando García (bodega Marañones), he founded Comando G, with the G of course representing Garnacha. Together they look for the highest vineyards of Garnacha in the Sierra de Gredos, going up to an altitude of 1000 and 1200 m, both in the DO Vinos de Madrid and since 2010 in Avila. All his parcel wines are made biodynamic.
The common thread in all his wines that he makes is finesse and elegance; Garnacha with a lot of fraiche. Daniel, el rey de la Garnacha!
Varieties

In the village of the Bodega Méntrida they have limited plantings Syrah, Cabernet, Tempranillo and Merlot, which are used only in two wines (Bajondillo - coupage of all) and Sotorrondero (Syrah in particular). The age of the vines is around 11 years.
Garnacha is the ultimate grape for this domain. And in this case Garnacha from the Sierra de Gredos at high altitude. According to Daniel, the Garnacha here, together with the Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo, gives one of the most elegant and fine wines in the world. All the Garnachas are between 40 and 80 years old.
All vineyards, in total around 30 ha, are cultivated organically (20 ha) or biodynamically (10 ha) with full respect for the ecosystem.
Terroir

Daniel distinguishes between his 'vinos de pueblo' (village wines) and his 'vinos de parcela' (parcel wines).
VINOS DE PUEBLO
He works in 2 different villages in the DO Méntrida, Méntrida itself and El Real de San Vicente. Bajondillo and Sotorrondero are made in Méntrida, on vineyards with sandy clayey soils, always of granite origin, between 5 to 600 m in height. The Garnacha is between 40 and 70 years old here. The Syrah was planted 10 years ago. The region has a Mediterranean character but with a lot of beauty.
Piélago is made in El Real de San Vicente, on 8 small plots, between 7 and 850 m in height and with different orientations. Sandy soils of granite origin. The sandy top layer is shallow (30-50 cm). Pluviometry of around 600 liters, the climate here is more Atlantic. Only 100% Garnacha is used here between 40 and 70 years old.

VINOS DE PARCELA
MÉNTRIDA
All these wines are always 100% Garnacha, all the grounds always of granite origin on different plots in El Real de San Vicente.
Ataulfos: very thin top layer; the mother rock (granite) is already at 30 cm, many stones on the surface. Orientation west at a height of 740 m. The sticks are 40 years old. The most fruity.

The End: very sandy (more fraîcheur) and orientation to the north (less sun hours), at an altitude of 730 m. Canes of 40 years old. The most pure and mineral with floral notes.
Cantos del Diablo: sandy top layer with orientation to the east at an altitude of 850 m. The poles are 60 years old. The most balanced and vinous.

AVILA
Reventón: outside the Méntrida appellation, in the village of Cebreros. Slate floor at an altitude of 850 m, facing west. Garnacha of 70 years old.

COMANDO G
La Bruja Avería: in Cadalso de los Vidrios (Madrid), granite floor with sandy surface of 100 to 150 cm depth. Garnacha of 80 years old at an altitude of 950 m for the terraces (0.5 ha) and Garnacha of 50 years old at 850 m for the slopes (2 ha).

Las Umbrias : in Rozas de Puerto Real (Madrid), granite floor with sand and clay on the surface (50-100 cm), at an altitude of 1000 m, oriented east. Garnacha of 60 years old (0.35 ha).

Rumbo al Norte : in Navarrevisca (Avila), granite floor at an altitude of 1100 m, northern orientation. Garnacha of 60 years old (0.3 ha)

A Por Uvas : in Navatalgordo (Avila), mainly Garnacha blanca on granite soils at 1200 m altitude, with northern orientation (0.14 ha)
Vinification

Only with native yeasts and always with a minimal dose of sulfur. Only large barriques of 500 to 1500 liters are used and never new oak, unless in the Bajondillo base wine. Daniel wants to come to wines that are balanced, elegant and mineral; that is why there is as little manipulation as possible with the grapes and then with the wines (never pumping).
The fermentation usually takes place in open large French oak barriques, with a subsequent level of 12 to 14 months.