Bodegas Pujanza La Paul Rioja 2022
Bodegas Pujanza La Paul is a wonderfully fresh and vibrant Spanish red wine crafted in the high altitude hills of Rioja Alavesa. Moving away from the heavy, deeply oaky styles of the past, this dynamic family estate champions a much more modern and energetic approach. The pure Tempranillo grapes are grown in a single vineyard just outside the historic medieval town of Laguardia. Here, the elevated vines benefit from brilliant sunshine and cooling mountain breezes, allowing the fruit to ripen perfectly while holding onto a fantastic natural freshness. In the cellar, the grapes are fermented carefully to lock in all of that pure, bright fruit character before resting in oak barrels for twelve months. Rather than overwhelming the wine with heavy wood, this gentle maturation simply rounds out the texture and weaves in a subtle layer of warming spice. In the glass, it opens with an inviting perfume of wild violet and crushed red summer berries. Every sip is incredibly smooth and lively, delivering generous waves of bright red cherry and juicy raspberry, backed by silky tannins and a clean, mouth-watering finish. This is a brilliant, highly versatile bottle to open for a relaxed weekend dinner with friends. Thanks to its energetic fruit and elegant structure, it does not need years in the cellar to be enjoyed at its absolute best. Serve it just slightly cooler than room temperature to really let those bright fruit flavours shine. It is a spectacular partner for a wide variety of dishes—pair a bottle with roasted lamb chops, a generous platter of Spanish cured meats and Manchego cheese, or a rich tomato and aubergine bake.
