2021 Imanol Garay Clandestinus

WINEMAKER: Imanol Garay
REGION: Navarra, SP
VARIETY: Graciano, Grenache
VITICULTURE: Organic/Biodynamic

A blend of two parts Graciano to one part Garnacha that was sourced from the dry and sunny plains of Navarra. The grapes underwent three weeks of semi-carbonic maceration before being pressed off and aged in barrique producing a wine that is fragrant and elegant, whilst at the same time carrying a surprising depth for its freshness.

Originally from San Sebastián, winemaker Imanol Garay came from the world of conventional wine before “letting love in,” and making the decision to embrace a more holistic approach. From his cellar in Maslacq, about an hour inland from Biarritz, he draws upon his experiences working with noted vignerons Richard Leroy and Vincente Carême, who helped bridge that crucial transitional time and informed his approach to farming and vinification. Imanol retains a commitment to biodynamic practices in his farming and zero-addition winemaking, relying on intuition and a keen, sensitive palate when tasting his brut wines.

'Garay’s production reaches outwards and embraces a multitude of forms. His projects span from his cellar in France to a separate cellar in Spain’s Txakoli region. Alongside his own recently planted 1 hectare of vines in Saint Etienne de Baïgorry, just outside the limits of the Irouléguy appellation, plus a second recently-acquired hectare in Orthez, he purchases fruit for his French production from the appellation Madiran in the Hautes-Pyrénées. His Spanish production sees fruit come in from Rioja and Navarra.

In his cellars, wines see élevage in a multitude of different vessels, using barrels, tanks and various hand-crafted amphorae, from sizes of about 50L to 600L. Meanwhile vinifications are entirely dictated by the nature of the fruit and the character of the vintage.

Imanol’s intrinsic curiosity and willingness to bend the tropes of regional expectation contribute to a production that is beguiling and wholly unique. He is not solely a winemaker but a painter, a musician, and a wonderfully sensitive person to the movements of the world around him. His charm and hospitality have touched many that have passed through his cellars, making it easy to understand why his wines have quickly become some of the most-loved amongst the natural wine community.