Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
There are two new single vineyard Garnacha bottlings, starting with the impressive 2015 Malayeto, 2.39 hectares of vines averaging 35 years of age; the vines are planted at 520 meters altitude on limestone rich soils in the village of Fitero. It fermented in 3,500-liter French oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in French barriques for nine months. It's subtle, elegant and quite transparent, with a bright ruby color, a nose of red berries and spices and a sleek palate with marked flavors and a subdued minerality. A superb Garnacha for the price.
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.