Matilda 2021 & El Estratonauta 2020 – Bodega Punku.
Punku means “Door” in Aymara language and connects two distinct regions; which are the Puna of Jujuy in the North of Argentina, situated 3,500 metres above sea level, and Catalonia in the northeast of Spain, through exceptional wine. This winery and its vineyards are located in the North of Spain in the D.O. Emporada. In this review we will be reviewing 2 of their wines; Matipa and El Estratonauta.
About the Winery
Patricio Gimeno whom is both a wine enthusiast and entrepreneur is the owner and founder of Punku, a family-run company dedicated to producing a high-quality product to express both emotions and experiences that only their wines can deliver on; of which both their memories and experiences gathered throughout time are captured on each of their labels by their Art Director, Maria Sol Gimeno.
At Punku – Casa de Vinos, they follow minimalist philosophy for the creation of all of their wines using the least amount of human interference, also exclusively producing small batch wines from the best conditions on harvest.
Matilda pays tribute to their youngest member of their family and also their goddaughter. Which expresses the naturalness and freshness that encourages the adventure of learning something new. El Estratonauta is their nephew’s response when asked what he wants to do when he grows up; the ethos behind this wine is to encourage us to take a seat, ponder and rethink the unfinished projects we have left behind and to begin them.
About the Wines
Matilda 2021
Made from Grenache and Carignan, grown in a Mediterranean climate from young vines on slate floors. Hand-picked at optimum phenolic ripeness and rigorously selected and sorted. Maceration and fermentation for 25 days at a temperature that does not exceed 24 degrees. Rest in bottle. Limited production to 3,150 bottles.
Gorgeous lively bright cherry colour. Very marked aromas of violet and forest fruits. Lots of red and black fruit, such as strawberry and blackberry. Palate is fresh and persistent; lots of red fruit, very smooth, low astringency and very easy to drink. Simple and notable. Pair with foods like tapas.
We award this wine with a 86-point DWA score.
El Estratonauta 2020
Made from Grenache and Carignan, grown in a Mediterranean climate from 70-year old vines on gravel soils with slate. Harvested by hand, with great care, always at the optimum moment of maturity. Grape must and skins fermented and macerated for 30 days at a controlled temperature. Aged for 12 months in French oak. Finally, the rest in the bottles creates the perfect balance. Limited production of 1,002 bottles.
Lovely cherry cola with violet reflections on the colour of the wine. Elegant aromas of red and black fruits such as ripe black currants and dried cranberries; also notes of liquorice, and hints of cinnamon. On the palate it is meaty, juicy and powerful. Good balance and very well structured, super firm round tannins that provide a long finish. Sophisticated, bold and complex wine. Pair with foods such as grilled meats and smoked cheeses.
This wine recently received a 90-point score by Spain’s leading wine critic Guía Peñín. We award it with a 91-point DWA score.
Conclusion:
Two excellent and well-made wines, filled with soul and passion. A project with interesting potential, producing value for money wines.
Please note: Punku is looking for the right partner to distribute these wonderful wines in the Netherlands. Please contact at wines@bodegapunku.com if interested. More information can also be found on their Instagram page.
This review is written by our own Teri Wheeler.
Price: €13 – €19
Taste date: May 2023
Score: 86-91 DWA Score
Website: Bodega Punku