Winemaker Notes
Very deep red, scarlet rim. Aromas of minerals and vanilla. Hints of raisins and dark chocolate. As typical of the vintage, power and intensity with disarming elegance.
Goes well with beef, pork, game based stews and rice dishes.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Aromas of cassis, toasted nuts and a touch of green bell pepper emanate from this inky garnet colored wine. A frame of forceful tannins supports flavors of cherry cola, Chambord, menthol and dark chocolate. The lingering finish is marked with a bright cranberry splash and a surprisingly savory dried Mediterranean herb note.
Editors' Choice -
Wine Spectator
A rich and powerful red in a harmonious package, this deftly knits sculpted tannins and amped up blackberry and blueberry coulis, toast, wild sage, vanilla and anise flavors with mouthwatering acidity. Long and minerally on the smoke- and spice-laced finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2016 Aquilón was creamy, heady and oaky, just a year younger than the 2015 but with similar parameters and profile, heavily marked by the élevage of two years in new oak. The fruit is ripe and the wine full-bodied and with a warm alcoholic finish. Give it some more time in bottle to calm down a little. For fans of heady and oaky reds.
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
Campo de Borja DO sits in the northwest province of Zaragoza (Aragon, Spain) south of Rioja and north of Cariñena. Since this area acquired DO status in the 1980s, it has gradually shown its own unique identity. Campo de Borja’s winegrowing history and heritage is rich in relation to Garnacha; the oldest vineyards in the DO date back to 1890. Furthermore, of the almost 4,000 hectares of this variety, more than 2,000 are between 30 and 50 years old.
Most production continues to be reds, and the number of crianzas and reservas is growing. Though less common, they produce white wines as well. Today, both red and rosé wines have won the respect of experts, and the intensely fruity, young red wines enjoy significant commercial success. The principal white grape varieties are Macabeo, Moscatel, Chardonnay, Garnacha Blanca, Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo. The principal red grape varieties include Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Syrah, Mazuela, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.