A new-to-me grape variety that makes quite an impression.
Bobal from 80+ year old vines in Manchuela, Castilla La Mancha, Spain. The wine is made with organic grapes and spends three months in oak barrels.
The 11 Pinos Bobal Old Vines has an SRP of $13 and is available for as low as $10 on Wine-Searcher. Imported by Classical Wines. Sample submitted for review.
From the bottle:
Produced from our 50 acres of Bobal vines averaging 80 years of age and more. Aromatic of mountain herbs, minerals, red fruit with a lengthy, refreshing finish, an ideal partner to grilled meat and poultry.
13.5% Alcohol
Bobal is a dark-skinned grape variety planted predominantly in eastern Spain around Valencia. It can also be found in small quantities in the southwest of France and on the island of Sardinia in Italy. And while it is the third most planted grape in all of Spain, it is little known outside that country.
In a similar storyline to many other grapes, it has traditionally been used only in small amounts in red blends to add some color and acidity. Today; however, many winemakers in Spain are rediscovering this native grape and making some excellent single varietal wines. (An added bonus for the health conscious is that thanks to those dark skins the variety is also quite high in beneficial phenolic compounds!)
The 2013 Vega Tolosa 11 Pinos Bobal Old Vines begins with a very pleasant aroma of black cherry, plum, a little cranberry, smoky spice and satisfying herbal notes. Taking a sip reveals dark, rich fruit soaked in mineral notes. Tannic yet smooth in the mouth and with good acidity, this is quite a surprising find for just $10. It ends with a dry, lip-puckering finish featuring more dark fruit, spice, minerals and good length. This wine represents great bang for your buck if you enjoy a meaty, hearty red!
See a listing of local retailers selling the 11 Pinos Bobal Old Vines here.
Would You Like To Save This?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
We won't send you spam, unsubscribe at any time.
