Winemaker Notes
Pure Garnacha sourced from three terraces in Elvillar´s quarter of El Vedao. A small zone rich in Garnacha vines due to its unique microclimate.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The one pure Garnacha is the 2016 Phinca El Vedao, which has a dark profile, closer to the earthiness of Priorat than the light from Gredos. There are notes of leather, licorice, fountain pen ink and black fruit. There are some fine tannins remaining, but they have been mostly polished by the 30 months the wine spent in 400- and 500-liter oak barrels. It's meaty and a bit chewy, with ripe fruit and a bitter twist in the finish.
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Wine & Spirits
The warmth of garnacha comes through in this powerful, earthy wine. It feels fully mature in its brothy beef-and mushroom flavors, “like a demi glace,” one taster said. Still, there’s acidity adding energy to the wine, which seems increasingly lively as it opens in the glass. Pour it with shredded duck and black mushrooms.
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.
Highly regarded for distinctive and age-worthy red wines, Rioja is Spain’s most celebrated wine region. Made up of three different sub-regions of varying elevation: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental. Wines are typically a blend of fruit from all three, although specific sub-region (zonas), village (municipios) and vineyard (viñedo singular) wines can now be labeled. Rioja Alta, at the highest elevation, is considered to be the source of the brightest, most elegant fruit, while grapes from the warmer and drier Rioja Oriental produce wines with deep color and higher alcohol, which can add great body and richness to a blend.
Fresh and fruity Rioja wines labeled, Joven, (meaning young) see minimal aging before release, but more serious Rioja wines undergo multiple years in oak. Crianza and Reserva styles are aged for one year in oak, and Gran Reserva at least two, but in practice this maturation period is often quite a bit longer—up to about fifteen years.
Tempranillo provides the backbone of Rioja red wines, adding complex notes of red and black fruit, leather, toast and tobacco, while Garnacha supplies body. In smaller percentages, Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan) often serve as “seasoning” with additional flavors and aromas. These same varieties are responsible for flavorful dry rosés.
White wines, typically balancing freshness with complexity, are made mostly from crisp, fresh Viura. Some whites are blends of Viura with aromatic Malvasia, and then barrel fermented and aged to make a more ample, richer style of white.