2021 Comando G Rozas 1er Cru

2021 Comando G Rozas 1er Cru is a high-altitude Garnacha from the rugged hills of Vinos de Madrid, crafted in a style that nods openly to the finesse of Burgundy. Drawn from old vines around the village of Rozas de Puerto Real at about 900 meters above sea level, it delivers remarkable precision, lift, and mineral tension. This cuvée captures Comando G’s core mission: to show that Garnacha from Madrid can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s great terroir-driven wines.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2021 Rozas 1er Cru is a luminous, pale ruby red with delicate, almost pinkish reflections, more reminiscent of a fine Pinot Noir than a typical sun-drenched Spanish red. The nose is immediately expressive: a basket of red fruits—wild strawberries, red cherries, raspberries, and cranberries—wrapped in notes of rose petals, white pepper, and subtle Mediterranean herbs, with a stony, almost chalky mineral edge. On the palate, it is feather-light in body yet packed with flavor, gliding across the tongue with silken texture and refined, powdery tannins. Juicy red berries and sour cherry take the lead, joined by hints of pomegranate, blood orange zest, and a gentle savory spice. The finish is long, lifted and complex, marked by mouthwatering acidity and a distinct granitic salinity that keeps everything wonderfully fresh. While beautifully approachable now for those who enjoy energy and purity, it has the structure and acidity to develop more complexity over the next 8–10 years.

Production
The fruit for Rozas 1er Cru comes from old-vine Garnacha, 50–80 years of age, rooted in poor, predominantly granitic soils around Rozas de Puerto Real in the Vinos de Madrid appellation. The vineyards sit at roughly 900 meters altitude, where hot, sunny days are balanced by significant nighttime cooling, preserving acidity and aromatic delicacy. Comando G farms these parcels with a clear focus on respect for the environment and expression of place, working by hand in the steep, rocky sites and harvesting the grapes manually at optimal ripeness. In the cellar, the team favors a gentle, Burgundian-inspired approach: whole or mostly whole clusters, a light maceration to avoid extraction of harsh tannins, spontaneous fermentations with native yeasts, and élevage in neutral, large-format barrels or foudres to allow the wine’s granitic minerality and vibrant fruit to take center stage.

Food & Serving
This elegant, finely etched Garnacha is especially well-suited to dishes that echo its finesse rather than overwhelm it. Think roast chicken with herbs, grilled or roasted pork, charcuterie, duck breast with cherries, or simply prepared lamb cutlets. It also shines alongside mushroom dishes, lightly spiced Mediterranean cuisine, and semi-soft cheeses such as Manchego, Tomme, or aged goat’s cheese. Serve lightly chilled at around 14–16 °C to highlight its freshness and aromatic lift. A brief 30–45 minutes in a decanter helps the wine open its floral and spicy notes, but extended decanting is not necessary given its delicacy.

Producer
Comando G is one of Spain’s most exciting modern wine projects, led by three already-renowned winemakers: Fernando García (Bodegas Marañones), Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi (Bodegas Jiménez-Landi) and Marc Isart (Bodegas Bernabeleva). Founded with the goal of redefining Garnacha from the mountains around Madrid, they sought out remote, high-altitude parcels of old vines on granite soils in the Sierra de Gredos. The name, inspired by a 1980s Japanese cartoon known in Spain as "Comando G," stands for "Comando Garnacha" and reflects both their sense of mission and playful spirit. In little more than a decade, Comando G has become a benchmark for cool-climate, terroir-driven Garnacha, earning international acclaim and top scores from leading critics, and placing Vinos de Madrid firmly on the map of serious fine wine regions.