Garnacha Old Vines Red 2021

The Garnacha Old Vines Red cuvée comes from the vineyards of Aragon , in northeastern Spain, the historical region of Garnacha (Grenache). The vines, planted on high-altitude slopes, are mostly old and deeply rooted in poor soils composed of schist, clay, and gravel. This continental terroir, characterized by hot summers, cold winters, and significant temperature variations, allows for a slow and balanced ripening of the grapes, concentrating the aromas while preserving the freshness and finesse that are hallmarks of old Garnacha vines.

Winemaking begins with hand-harvesting to preserve the integrity of the low-yielding grapes. Fermentation takes place in tanks, with precise temperature control to promote gentle extraction that respects the fruit. Maceration is moderate to retain the natural elegance of the grape variety. The wine is then aged for 12 months , partly in concrete tanks, to refine its structure without overpowering the varietal expression. This balanced approach aims to reveal the purity of the fruit and the personality of the old vines.

This wine reveals notes of ripe strawberry , black cherry , and raspberry , complemented by hints of black pepper , garrigue, thyme , and smoky rosemary . On the palate, the attack is supple and generous, supported by fine, silky tannins. The balance between fruit, freshness, and structure makes it very drinkable, while the persistent, slightly spicy finish underscores the authentic and expressive character of this old-vine Grenache.

The history of wine in Spain is so old that no one really knows who brought the first vines to the region. When the Phoenicians arrived some 3,000 years ago and founded the present-day cities of Cádiz and Jerez, viticulture was well established and Spanish wines were widely marketed throughout the Mediterranean and North Africa. You could say that Spain is a wine miracle. After years spent away from the world of fine wines, she is today a major player. Investment and ambition in the vineyards and cellars results in increasingly rich and complex (often very alcoholic) and spicy reds which are increasingly appreciated by international consumers. Proud to have more land devoted to vines than any other country, Spain is only beginning to capitalize on this resource consistently. Spain is an anarchic tangle of regions and sub-regions, just as its landscape is an anarchic tangle of incredibly raw landscapes. A glance at a map reveals the climatic diversity among Spain's many wine regions, from the soggy green vineyards of Galicia on the northern Atlantic coast to the toasty vineyards of southeastern the Mediterranean. Spain's saving grace, in terms of viticulture, is the average altitude of its vineyards, above 600 meters. A large part of Spanish vineyards therefore manage to produce grapes of good color and acidity simply because night temperatures are relatively low and the grapes do not ripen until the end of a sufficiently long growing period. But there is real treasure to be found for those willing to dig and, now that a class of connoisseurs has developed in Spain, all manner of ambitious investors have done their part to change the image of Spanish wine . Today, a new generation of winemakers has quietly begun making spectacular wines and experimenting with grape varieties that would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. Wine remains an important commodity and is an integral part of Spanish culture.