Garnacha from Calatayud, Aragon, Spain.
Available for only $5.99 at Costco. Imported by Evaki Inc.
From the bottle:
"Calatayud, a hidden treasure.
Vibrant red Grenache offers ripe flavours of blackberry with hints of spice and plum. Enjoy with tortilla, any red meat, some Serrano ham or cheese.
13.5% Alcohol"
As we've stated many times before (most recently here) the Calatayud is one of our favorite spots for value wines. Why? One look at today's wine tells you: 80% of the vines used to produce this Garnacha are between 50 and 100 years old. Old vines equals lots of flavor. Lots of flavor equals happy wine drinkers. And $5.99 at Costco equals happy wine drinkers with money left over in their wallets. That said, this wine isn't the best we've had from the Calatayud, but at this price it offers exceptional value.
The 2012 Bodega Virgen de la Sierra Cruz de Piedra Garnacha Tinto begins with tons of ripe, red berries, red currants and red licorice aromas. (Are you sensing a theme here?) When tasting the ripe red tart fruit continues big time adding in some cranberry and a little blackberry. There's also a very nice spicy streak, good acidity and soft tannins. This wine did not see any time in oak which allows the fruit flavors to really shine yet it still offers surprising complexity for the price. It ends dry with more ripe fruit, a little leather and a nice splash of peppery spice. Here's to old vines on the cheap!
See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.
Overall Rating: 7.8
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