Juan Antonio Ponce 'Clos Lojen' 2025

Until quite recently, the wines of Manchuela went largely unnoticed. This landlocked region of ancient, high altitude vineyards was just a small part of Spain’s vast La Mancha DOP. Its fruit was mostly consigned to bulk blending, and its native grape, Bobal, was a little-known, insider secret. 

Then came Juan Antonio Ponce. 

Working with around 70 hectares of old to very old bush vines, Ponce (pronounced PON-thay) has single-handedly put Manchuela’s wines on the map. Farmed organically, his vineyards are planted predominantly to old-vine Bobal, alongside rare blocks of Monastrell, Garnacha, the native white Albilla, and some others. In the cellar, the approach is traditional: whole-bunch, wild yeast fermentations in large wooden vats, and no fining or filtration.

Ponce’s wines are a revelation. The reds combine a herbal freshness with beautifully plush tannins - elegance and fabulous drinkability in a bottle. The whites are full of freshness, energy, and minerality. Both have that rare hallmark of fine wine: they reveal the unique character of their individual site. 

Despite racking up massive critical acclaim year after year, Ponce’s wines remain astonishingly accessible. From the entry-level cuvées to the rare single-vineyard bottlings, they offer some of the most extraordinary value in wine.