March 22, 2022 - 100% Garnacha from centenarian vineyards planted at the turn of the 20th century. Aged for 10 months in oak barrels. 14,5% alcohol.
Luminous, deep and moderately translucent cherry red color. Vibrant nose of ripe red plums, some wild strawberries, a little bit of bilberry, light evolved meaty tones, a hint of savory wood spice, a sweet touch of dried figs and a whiff of alcohol. The wine is ripe, solar and somewhat sweet-toned on the palate with quite bold flavors of strawberries, some soft red plums, a little bit of savory wood spice, light evolved notes of meaty umami, a sweet hint of dried figs and a touch of toasty oak spice. The overall feel is textural but also somewhat soft and round, thanks to the medium acidity and sparse, ripe and almost fully resolved tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is long, somewhat warm and gently tannic with flavors of savory wood spice, some strawberry tones, a little bit of bittersweet dark chocolate, light evolved notes of meaty umami, a sweet hint of dried figs and a touch of ferrous blood.
A juicy and tasty old vine Garnacha that is a bit on the fat side. The wine shows some evolution, but retains still quite a good bit of vibrant, youthful fruit, so for that part it doesn't seem like the wine would fall apart anytime soon. However, structurally the wine has softened up considerably and really doesn't call for any additional aging - even now the wine is a bit too flabby for my taste and could actually use a bit more acidity and tannins. This is good and enjoyable stuff, but the softness and lack of energy keep the wine from being truly great. Even though the wine might keep good for years, I see no upside to keeping it any further - time to drink up.
June 4, 2014 - Bought this on release, was very tannic but those are now gone and fruit has come to the forefront.
March 28, 2014 - Toujours aussi terreux
December 25, 2013 - Cd vin reste decevan ,Lourd,terreux ne s'ouvrant pas
December 3, 2013 - Nice solid, somewhat luscious Spain wine from the Calatuyud region. Think dark berry fruit meets slate.
September 24, 2013 - When this was released it was hot, over the top and extremely tannic. Some of the tannins are integrated but there are still some lingering on the finish where they lend a bitter tone. I don't think these big spoofy Spanish reds ever get any better with age, definitely not my thing, and I could kill the wine store owner who foisted a case of this on me.
July 3, 2013 - A first - wine that had no taste - not bad but not good. Just no flavor. No finish.
January 21, 2013 - Trop Lourd et sirupeux,presque du porto
January 12, 2013 - Easy drinking with some nice flavors, bacon on the nose, the fruit tasting somewhat fake, still drinking well with some light tannins on the finish, a decent enough wine but nothing special.
October 30, 2012 - Medium red, rather opaque colour. In the nose ripe and rather concentrated red berries (strawberries and raspberries), some spice and tar, and a hint of developed notes. Medium+ body, on the palate slightly sweetish fruit with red berries, just a touch of bitterness, some spice, medium tannin of reasonably soft character mid-palate, but a bit more tannic in the aftertaste where there is also some red berries. Overall I'd say its 14,5% alcohol is well integrated and it isn't too sweet either. There is a bit of a feeling of beginning development over the wine, and I'm not sure it would really gain from more extended cellaring.