Winemaker Notes
Calatayud is Spain's highest altitude zone for the cultivation of Garnacha, and produces wines that are incredibly intense yet balanced with bright acidity due to the high altitudes. The slate soils impart a phenomenal minerality to Brega. Primary source records date back to the 7th Century demonstrate the cultivation of Garnacha in the medieval Kingdom of Aragón, which propagated this grape across the Mediterranean, including the South of France and Italy. One of the most unique Garnachas in Spain due to its balance between concentration and acidity.
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: The 2017 Bodega Breca Brega Garnacha is powerful and lasting on the palate. TASTING NOTES: This wine does not take prisoners; it serves up concentrated aromas and flavors of blackberries and oak. Enjoy it with a thick and juicy, grilled ribeye. (Tasted: September 12, 2021, San Francisco, CA)
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2017 Brega comes from a stricter selection and was brought up some new barrels. This uber-ripe, sexy wine offers lots of spiced plum, strawberry, sandalwood, and licorice notes in a medium to full-bodied, ripe, mouth-filling style.
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.
Calatayud DO is a wine region tucked into northern Spain’s regions just south of Rioja, about 55 miles (90km) from the provincial capital, Zaragoza. When Calatayud attained DO status in the 90s, it rapidly became Aragon’s second largest quality wine-producing region after its neighbor, Cariñena. Since then, it has focused on upgrading and perfecting its wines with progressive improvements in both cooperatives and private bodegas. Similarly, there has been substantial investment in new technology, winemaking system, and vineyard research. Thanks to this, Calatayud wines are now beginning to show their true potential.
The principle red grape varieties grown are Garnacha Tinta, Tempranillo, Syrah, Bobal, Monastrell.
Many of the new wineries are exploring the potential of the Garnacha grape. A new category of red wines called Calatayud Superior is made from red Garnacha from low yield vines that are at least 50 years old.
The principal white grape varieties in Calatayud are Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca, Malvasía and Chardonnay.