Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The single-vineyard Garnacha 2016 Malayeto comes from 2.39 hectares of vines averaging 35 years of age in the village of Fitero at 520 meters in altitude on limestone soils. It's a bright ruby colored red, wine with tons of spices, herbs, flowers, notes of bay leaf, thyme and a bright personality. It has a light to medium-bodied palate with unnoticeable oak (it matured in well-seasoned, neutral oak foudres and barrels), with complex stone minerality, a dry and long finish. This is really delicious and a very good value, possibly the freshest of the six Garnachas I tasted from them. Some 12,000 bottles were filled in March 2018. This is a real bargain, one to buy by the case.
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.