Juan Carlos Sancha, a professor of oenology at the University of La Rioja, founded his eponymous winery in Rioja Alta along the border of D.O.Ca. Rioja, in the coldest zone of this wine denomination. Along with various plots of old vine Garnacha Juan Carlos Sancha’s winery also has vines of minority varieties such as Tempranillo Blanco, Maturana Tinta and Maturana Blanca, varieties that he and his university colleague Fernando Martinez de Toda discovered, rescued from extinction, and developed. The wine-making philosophy is based on organic practices and minimal intervention in all stages of the process, the aim being to preserve the purity and clearness of their carefully selected grapes to produce personal, elegant and powerful wines. Tim Atkin not only lists them as one of his top 20 in the region but Juan Carlos was the 2019 Viticulturist of the Year. This cooler location, in Baños de Río Tobía (Rioja Alta) in the Najerilla Valley, contributes to the high quality of their wines. Alongside his range of redescovered varieties, bottled under the “Ad Libitum” label the winery also bottles Grenache from his family’s 100 year old vines as “Pena el Gato”. In the last 20 years, Spain has uprooted over 100,000 hectares (247,105 acres) of Garnacha (Grenache). In the denomination of origin-Rioja, Garnacha has gone from representing almost 40 percent of total vineyard in 1973 to an astounding 8 percent in 2012.

Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja – Granito 2023
14.5% abv
Intense violet colour, aromatically laden with crushed rock and dense fruits of blackberries and minerals. It has a very structured and powerful palate.
Bush vines planted in 1917 in the Najerilla Valley at an altitude of 650 meters above sea level on south-facing slopes. The soils are poor and shallow, with a marked calcareous-clay composition. After destemming, the grapes are vatted and fermented, subsequently moving to small-capacity GRANITE TANKS in which they are aged. The wine remains in the GRANITE tank for 11 months.
125 Cases made
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2023 | Bonded | Europe | Grenache (Garnacha/Cannonau) | Juan Carlos Sancha | Red | Rioja | Spain | Still | Wine£117.00  Per Case 6 x 75cl (6 x £19.50) exclusive of Duty and VAT.
Limited stock, only 4 remaining
Important. This is a bonded product and is priced exclusive of Duty and VAT. Wines must be purchased by the unmixed case. The case size is detailed in the Product Details. After purchase we will contact you to arrange either the wine's continued storage in a bonded warehouse as designated by HM Customs & Excise or for the payment of the pertinent Duty and VAT, where after delivery can be arranged. Transfer & delivery fees will be charged at cost.
- Reference #:
- 22640_B
- Strength
- 14.5 ABV
- Bottles per Case
- 6 bottles
- Grapes
- Grenache (Garnacha/Cannonau)
- Organic
- Yes
- Biodynamic
- No
- Vegan
- Yes
- Vegetarian
- Yes
- Sparkling
- No
What do I pay for delivery?
Orders under £150 are charged an initial £9.95 incl. VAT.
Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Isles of Scilly.
Orders under £190 are charged an initial £12.00 incl.
All stock bought from Bond will be charged at delivery cost as quoted by the bond. As this varies dependent on the location of the wines and ultimate destination this will be quoted to you at the point of billing for VAT and duty.
And can we change order.
Deliveries are normally between 09.00 and 17.00 Tuesday to Friday and a signature is required on receipt of delivery. (We do not ship on a Friday for Monday delivery unless specifically requested to do so).
A shipping confirmation email will be sent when your order has been processed and shipped. You will be sent a further email and/or text with a delivery time slot and a consignment number along with instructions on how to amend this if required.
If you are out a card is left, with an instruction to call the local depot to re-arrange delivery. Alternatively, you can inform us to “leave safe”, “leave with a neighbour”, “leave in garage” etc. and we will pass this information onto the courier. Please remember that, in accordance with our Terms & Conditions, alcohol will only be left with persons over 18 Years Old.
A shipping confirmation email will be sent when your order has been processed and shipped. You will be sent a text with a delivery time slot and a consignment number along with instructions on how to amend this if required.
We use Mailsafe packaging and double walled cardboard boxes for secure shipping of all bottles. Clear labelling marked FRAGILE is applied and all our despatches.
UK mainland deliveries are overnight from confirmation of despatch with the exception of the following postcodes where deliveries are made on a 2 to 5 day service from despatch :
IV 3 to 11, IV14 to 28, IV 40 & IV 51 to 54, IV 63. KW 1 to 3 & KW 5 to 14. PH 33 to 41
This Producer
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Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja – Garnacha Vinas Centenarias 2022
Single Vineyard Rioja from 100+ Year Old Garnacha Vines
£22.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja – Garnacha Vinas Centenarias 2022
Single Vineyard Rioja from 100+ Year Old Garnacha Vines
£84.00Vol (6 x 75cl)Excl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja NATURAL Garnacha Vinas Centenarias 2018
Single vineyard zero sulphur Rioja
£102.00Vol (6 x 75cl)Excl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Ad Libitum Rioja Maturana Tinta 2023
The rarest red variety in Rioja
£18.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja – Granito 2023
Chiselled granite ferment acient vine Rioja
£27.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja – TINAJA Vinas Centenarias 2022
Amphora Fermented Rioja from 100+ Year Old Garnacha Vines
£27.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja NATURAL Garnacha Vinas Centenarias 2022
zero sulphur from 100 Year Old Vines
£28.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Rioja Blanco Cerro La Isa Singular 2022
Single Vineyard White Rioja from 100+ Year Old Vines
£258.00Vol (6 x 75cl)Excl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja – Garnacha Coleccion 6 Bottle Case 2021
The ultimate exploration of terroir…
£111.41Vol (1 x 400cl)Excl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja NATURAL Garnacha Vinas Centenarias 2018
Single vineyard zero sulphur Rioja
£26.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Ad Libitum Monastel de Rioja 2021
A lovely swoosh of rhubarb acidity and gentle dark fruits
£21.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Rioja Blanco Cerro La Isa Singular 2022
Single Vineyard White Rioja from 100+ Year Old Vines
£56.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Ad Libitum Rioja Maturana Blanca 2024
Rare variety with an elegant note of oak
£19.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

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Juan Carlos Sancha Pena el Gato Rioja – TINAJA Vinas Centenarias 2022
Amphora Fermented Rioja from 100+ Year Old Garnacha Vines
£96.00Vol (6 x 75cl)Excl. Tax & Duty

-
Juan Carlos Sancha Ad Libitum Rioja Tempranillo Blanco 2024
Rare Variety White Rioja. Unoaked
£16.00Vol (75cl)Incl. Tax & Duty

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