Campo Arriba – Andale! Andale!

Make like Speedy Gonzales and grab a few bottles of this wine at Costco while you can!

The Campo Arriba is a blend of 70% Monastrell (Mourvedre), 20% Syrah and 10% Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) from Yecla, Spain. The wine spends 3 months in French oak barrels.

The wine has an SRP of $20 but we purchased it for just $8.99 at Costco. This is not a Costco exclusive but you will generally pay more at other retailers. You can check that pricing here. Imported by Joint Ventures.

From the bottle:

Campo Arriba is the northernmost subregion in Yecla. It is also the highest (hence the name, translated as “High Ground”), with vineyards planted at 750m average (2,460ft) above sea level. These high elevation vineyards allow for the fruit to mature more slowly, giving more hangtime to the fruit and a rich complexity to the wine.

This wine from Yecla was produced from old Monastrell, Syrah and Tintorera vines cultivated in clay, sand and limestone soil. Aged in French oak barrels, the wine is deep cherry-red in colour with fresh fruit aromas and a long, smooth finish.

14% Alcohol

I used to love watching the old Looney Tunes cartoons as a kid. And, much to my delight, every once in awhile Speedy Gonzales would make an appearance. What little kid didn’t enjoy seeing “The Fastest Mouse in all of Mexico” successfully run away from El Gringo Pussygato (Sylvester), especially when saving his cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez (“The Slowest Mouse in all of Mexico”). Apparently, as part of our PC culture gone mad, Speedy is now mostly banned in the USA, despite remaining very popular in Latin America. But, I digress! Let’s get to the wine…

The 2014 Campo Arriba begins with a very nice, big, inviting aroma of super-ripe plum, blackberry, prunes, licorice, vanilla and violets. The wine tastes smooth, dense and rich. This is a full-bodied and delicious blend although it definitely needs a bit of time to open up to be at its best. On the palate you’ll find lots more ripe dark fruit and licorice along with spice and cola. Chewy tannins lead into the dry, long and satisfying finish that also features a hint of minerality.

Looking for more of our favorite picks from Costco? Click the pic below to browse our multi-page listing of recommended wines along with more information on how to best shop the store!

Ready to buy the Campo Arriba? Check your local retailers.