Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
A custom cuvée made for importer Eric Solomon with Jean-Marc Lafage, the 2016 Alcaria is a blend of 50% Monastrell, 25% Syrah, and the balance Garnacha, brought up in a mix of French and American oak barrels. An incredible value that more than over-delivers, this deeply colored red boasts terrific notes of ripe black fruits, chocolate, smoked herbs, and graphite. With full-boded richness and a sexy, opulent style on the palate, it opens up nicely in the glass and should keep for 2-4 years.
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Wine Enthusiast
This blend of Monastrell, Syrah and Garnacha Tintorera feels lively, its dark plum and berry aromas laced with chocolate. Smacking tannins create a dry sensation, framing ripe black plum and prune flavors. Complex notes of spice and tomato emerge on the firm finish. Best Buy
Spanish red wine is known for being bold, heady, rustic and age-worthy, Spain is truly a one-of-a-kind wine-producing nation. A great majority of the country is hot, arid and drought-ridden, and since irrigation has only been recently introduced and (controversially) accepted, viticulture has sustained—and flourished—only through a great understanding of Spain’s particular conditions. Large spacing between vines allows each enough resources to survive and as a result, the country has the most acreage under vine compared to any other country, but is usually third in production.
Of the Spanish red wines, the most planted and respected grape variety is Tempranillo, the star of Spain’s Rioja and Ribera del Duero regions. Priorat specializes in bold red blends, Jumilla has gained global recognition for its single varietal Monastrell and Utiel-Requena has garnered recent attention for its reds made of Bobal.