Bodegas Maximo Abete La Abejera Old Vine Garnacha 2016
Winemaker Notes
Bodegas Máximo Abete is a small family winery located in San Martín de Unx in the DO Navarra of Northern Spain. Yoanna and Maria, the daughters of Máximo (the founder and namesake of the winery) run all aspects of the operation, alongside Yoanna’s husband Juanma. They are dedicated to an artisanal philosophy, with their limited production being sold in the local wine store of San Martín de Unx, along with select boutique distributors and importers around the globe. They harvest grapes from their dry-farmed parcels of land spread out through the Baja Montaña subregion of DO Navarra – the most mountainous region of the DO. They favor fewer kilos for better quality.
Just north of Spain’s famous Rioja region, Navarra excels in the production of full and fruit-dominant reds and good quality, dry rosés. Garnacha holds most of the land under vine, with Tempranillo coming in second place.
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.