About this WINE
Bodegas Arrayan
Bodegas Arrayán makes wine in the appellation of Mentrida in the province of Toledo (in Castile-La Mancha) and was founded by the current proprietors, husband and wife José María Entrecanales and María Marsans, and celebrated its first vintage in 2003. Renowned viticultural scientist Dr Richard Smart was enlisted to carry out a study of the land prior to it being planted with a combination of international and indigenous grape varieties.
Among the latter group, the white Albillo Real is of particular interest, in part because of its obscurity, but mostly because it is giving such superb results! We also have the good fortune to bring you La Suerte, which encapsulates just why Garnacha is among the hippest varietals on the planet at present.
Arrayán is located near the town of Santa Cruz de Retamar, just an hour’s drive from Madrid. Snow here is not uncommon, nor are summer temperatures approaching forty degrees – challenges which keep winemaker Maite Sanchéz and her team on their toes.
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
‘Juicy’ can be a double-edged compliment in tasting notes, often implying a lack of substance behind a barrage of fruit. But - notwithstanding undertones of spice and flowers which a add a degree of profundity - this is so laden with fresh red fruit aromas, so succulent on the palate, that no other word will do: La Suerte de Arrayán is juicy and proud. A bottle is likely to disappear fairly rapidly, particularly if it accompanies an al fresco lunch.
Will Heslop, Wine Buying
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