El Reflejo de Mikaela 2020 Red

Aurelio García is a winemaker known for his work at Valquejigoso in Villamanta (Madrid) who also consults for Valdepotros in Carabaña, also in Madrid, and Lagar de Isilla in Ribera del Duero. However, his heart lies in his homeland of Cuenca, where he has launched his own venture with his wife, Micaela Rubio. They source grapes from Ribera del Júcar, but make the wines in their village, La Alberca de Záncara, which is outside the DO.

Their entry-level red, El Reflejo de Mikaela (14,000 bottles, around €18), is made from crisp Bobal grapes and delivers instant enjoyment. It is aged for a few months in moderately porous French clay and silica vessels, as well as in barrels with a significant presence of new oak –new wood is usually reserved for this cuvée. Fresh and fluid, the wine still manages to retain considerable depth.

A highly recommendable wine to get a taste of a region dominated by cooperatives and know for producing some of the most appreciated bulk wine in Castilla-La Mancha. The region, however, is in need of a fresh, modern approach to help showcase its outstanding heritage of old vines in risk of disappearing (El Reflejo is made from +75-year-old vines) and the unique character of the area's stony soils, which ensure good ripening levels while preserving humidity.