Critics reviews
(Highly Recomended, Decanter, Feb 2014)
About this WINE
Grenache/Garnacha
Grenache (Noir) is widely grown and comes in a variety of styles. Believed to originate in Spain, it was, in the late 20th century, the most widely planted black grape variety in the world. Today it hovers around seventh in the pecking order. It tends to produce very fruity, rich wines that can range quite widely in their level of tannin.
In many regions – most famously the Southern Rhône, where it complements Syrah and Mourvèdre, among other grapes – it adds backbone and colour to blends, but some of the most notable Châteauneuf du Pape producers (such as Château Rayas) make 100 percent Grenache wines. The grape is a component in many wines of the Languedoc (where you’ll also find its lighter-coloured forms, Grenache Gris and Blanc) and is responsible for much southern French rosé – taking the lead in most Provence styles.
Found all over Spain as Garnacha Tinta (spelt Garnaxa in Catalonia), the grape variety is increasingly detailed on wine labels there. Along with Tempranillo, it forms the majority of the blend for Rioja’s reds and has been adopted widely in Navarra, where it produces lighter styles of red and rosado (rosé). It can also be found operating under a pseudonym, Cannonau, in Sardinia.
Beyond Europe, Grenache is widely planted in California and Australia, largely thanks to its ability to operate in high temperatures and without much water. Particularly in the Barossa Valley, there are some extraordinary dry-farmed bush vines, some of which are centuries old and produce wines of startling intensity.
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Description
This is yet another wonderful effort from Juan Carlos Lopez de Lacalle, who has achieved fame in various and far-reaching vinous categories, irrespective of price. The nose is pure Garnatxa; however the generous six months of barrel ageing have added an extra dimension to this occasionally over-enthusiastic grape-variety. Notes of star anise and coffee beans mix with the exuberant plum and blackberry fruit to create a heady cocktail. The palate displays some of the elegance of the vintage, with a delicate balance between fruit, acidity and tannin and when one considers the relatively low price that this wine commands, the overall impression is favourable indeed.
Nick Stewart, Buying Department
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