100% Garnacha from Spain available for $6.99 at Costco.
From the bottle:
who: a custom cuvee for Eric SolomonEvidently old vines make really great tasting grapes! Grenache or Garnacha in Spanish is one of the most widely planted grapes but you don't often see wines that are 100% Grenache as they tend to blend it with other varietals. Of course these resulting blends (which are predominantly Grenache) include some pretty renowned wines like Châteauneuf-du-Pape and some Rhône varieties.
what: 100% garnacha
when: vineyards planted up to 100 years ago
where: high altitude vineyards (2400-3000ft) in the mountainous village of Atea planted on pure slate soils
why: grenache this great usually goes for twice the price!
how: extract cork, pour in glass (optional), drink
We found the 2009 Altovinum Calatayud Evodia Old Vines Garnacha to be very nice immediately after opening and it only got better from there. Black cherry and cola on the nose, followed by raspberry notes with a bit of pepper and heat. Slightly dry and a very smooth finish that lingers nicely. I can see this being a wine that some will like more than others, but it definitely struck all the right notes for me. Bulk Buy!
There's also a great story behind the importer of this wine, Eric Solomon and his import company European Cellars that you can read at their website. I know I will definitely be seeking out more of their offerings!
Taste Rating: 8 Cost Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 8.3
All ratings use a simple 10 point scale with 10 being the best. Find out more about my rating system here and check out the Interactive Wine Rating Chart to find all my reviews! You can sort by type of wine, cost, rating, etc. in the interactive spreadsheet.
I got the 2010 version of this. Its truely awful, can't drink it at all. Had to pour it down the drain :( I have never done this with any wine before!
ReplyDeleteWow, I haven't tried the 2010 yet. I wonder if you got a bad bottle?
DeleteI don't put much stock in the magazine ratings, but I did see that Wine Enthusiast rated the 2010 higher than the 2009 and put it on their recent Top 100 Best Buy list.
I love this wine, it is absolutely delicious! Lively and sophisticated, with a very nice finish. Great for sipping and great with food! I'll be sorry when this vintage is gone.
ReplyDeleteThe 2010 is sublime. I will be buying more!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info, will have to see if my Costco has it yet!
DeleteLove this wine, especially for the price! Eileen must've got a corked bottle.
ReplyDeleteI love it too, one of my faves for the price. Thanks for reading!
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