Bodegas Gil Berzal 2019 Recoveco San Julian

90% Tempranillo, 10% white grapes (Viura and Calagraño) from a single vineyard planted in 1955. The San Julian vineyard encompasses just over 2 hectares of extremely poor, shallow, clay-calcareous topsoil above limestone bedrock (which sometimes comes up to the surface) hovering at around 650 meters with a southwest-facing exposure. Free-run juice spends 18 months in 600L French oak barrels after a primary fermentation in concrete. Compared to the rest of the "premier crus" from the bodega, the San Julian is meatier and spicier while still retaining a seriously fresh aromatic dimension. The tension between the sweet-leaning tannins and mineral core forms a wine that is difficult to move on from. There's little doubt this wine has plenty of life ahead, though undeniably delicious right now.