Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The most serious wine, as usually is the case, is their 2014 Vega Sindoa El Chaparral Old Vines Garnacha, coming from head-pruned Grenache vines all planted earlier than 1940. This is 100% Grenache aged in French oak for nine months and then bottled. There is a peppery/licorice almost Pinot Noir delicacy this wine. It offers up notes of cranberry, black cherry and floral hints. The wine has terrific body, good acidity and underlying, earthy minerality. This is very much an Atlantic maritime-influenced Grenache to drink over the next 2-3 years.
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.
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.