Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Always a favorite of mine, the 2015 Vega Sindoa El Chaparral Old Vines Garnacha is a herbal, spicy and balsamic expression of the grape. It's produced with fruit from old vines and it's ripe without excess, quite round and sleek in this dry and warm year, and nicely integrated oak from its five to six months in barrique.
Rating: 90+
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.