Experience El Hombre Bala Old Vine Garnacha, a rich and complex Spanish red with a perfumed nose of aromatic herbs, berry and cherry aromas, and a touch of spice. Supple tannins and balanced acidity support a palate of forest fruit and blackberry flavours backed by black pepper, spice and balsamic notes. Best paired with grilled or roasted red meat and game. Enjoy a long finish.

Critic Review

Decanter Magazine: 90Pts
Drinking Window: 2022 - 2024

"Sundried tomato, caramelised onion. Full bodied with red berry fruits. Fresh and lively with slightly dusty tannin and a juicy raspberry finish"
Sarah Jane Evans MW, Christine Allen, Beth Willard

About the Producer

Vila Viniteca is a family business, established as a food and wine shop in downtown Barcelona in 1932, just two minutes walk from Santa Maria del Mar Basilica.

In the early '90s, co-owners Quim Vila and Francisco Marti decided to re-invigorate the business - giving it a real focus on wine (Francisco Marti was already experienced in the wine business as owner of the Ca N'Estruc etstate in Catalonia). In 2010, as the result of a joint-venture between Vila Viniteca and the team behind Comando G. (Fernando García and Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi) - the Uvas Felices (Happy Grapes) project was born.

They craft a range of intensely pure and expressive wines from old vine Garnacha (between 50 and 90 years old) in Cadalso de los Vidrios (Madrid). Here low-yielding vineyards skirt the high mountain forests in the Sierra de Gredos hills. The project also incorporates an Albariño produced in collaboration with Bodega Zárate in Rias Baixas.

Vineyard and Winery

Grapes are sourced from four Garnacha vineyards, between 50 and 90 years old, in the Gredos mountain range (at over 400m altitude). These are located in three villages to the west of Madrid: Cadalso de los Vidrios, Cenicientos and Rozas de Puerto Real - with mixed sandy granite and clay soils. The grapes are hand-harvested - those for 'El Hombre Bala' are the earliest picked (from 20th September to mid-October), followed a little later by 'La Mujer Cañón' (in the second half of October). Grape maceration lasts an average of 30 days at low temperature. Fermentation follows at a controlled temperature in oak barrels and wooden vats. 100% of the wine is aged in first use, French oak barrels (400-700 litre) for 10 months.