Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi (or Dani Landi as he’s more commonly known) is certainly one half of Comando G, but his personal projects are at least as compelling and much more sought after within Spain.  Born to generations of grape growers in Méntrida, his personal project explores the unique terroirs of his home DO.

This is very much Sierra de Gredos wine, but the distinction between his personal wines, which are from his home village of Méntrida, and Comando G, which works from a broad range of terroirs, is important.  

 

These are vines ranging in age from 37-60+ years old, grown biodynamically under the stewardship of Ester Nin since 2004. The parcels are scattered across the wild terrain near Gratallops in the heart of the Priorat. Here the slate soils collect in colorful fans that resemble smashed pottery. The varying aspects of each parcel’s microclimate are where the magic lies, spanning shallow valleys or climbing rough, terraced hillsides. The wines are crafted in the tiny, ancient village whose rustic charms first attracted winemaker, Daphne Glorian, and her cohorts Rene Barbier and Alvaro Palacios to the region in 1989.