Vinos Norzagarai "Garúa" Tinto, Rioja, Spain 2023

FROM SELECTION MASSALE: THE WINE: Garúa 2021: Carbonic maceration Tempranillo . Quite a tradition here in Rioja Alavesa, I make CM in Beaujolais style in CO2 saturated closed stainless steel tank, not in the typical open cement vats of Rioja. It’s pressed at ‘dryness’ but since there are plenty of whole bunches at this point, fermentation does pick up and go on for a couple of days longer. Then I just leave it to undergo malolactic fermentation slowly in the winery’s basement at lowish temperatures to have some of that CO2 dissolved into the wine. Then it’s lightly filtered and bottled around April-June. I normally make this wine upon request for those interested in an easy drinking young wine out of the younger parcels I tend, those that are in conversion to organic and some bought grapes. THE PRODUCER: Santiago Norzagarai is a Rioja producer making wines unlike any others in the region. Many things set him apart. First of all, he is from Buenos Aires, though he has lived in Spain for