R. Parker (91/100)
The 2021 El Mentridano was produced with Garnacha grapes from the family in the village of Méntrida (and therefore not Gredos) on sandstone granite soils, producing a light and approachable style through fermenting the full clusters with a very short maceration and an élevage in 3,000- and 3,700-liter foudres for seven months. It's quite open and appley, with hints of herbs and red berries. It's a warmer zone than Gredos, and the wine is ripe without excess with 14.3% alcohol and a pH of 3.4. It has less grip than the wines from Gredos but is balanced through the shorter maceration. 17,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2022.
The new kid on the block is Vitícola Mentridana, a family and friends project from Dani Landi (Comando G) and Curro Bareño (Ca' di Mat and Fedellos) with family vineyards and some of the brands that used to belong to Landi. The first vintage is 2021, but the 2020s are already labeled and sold through this new project. In total, they have 15 hectares in Méntrida and Real de San Vicente, some owned, some rented, but all are worked by them organically (and in due time they should get the certification). Production is around 40,000 bottles. It's a great new addition to Gredos.