I was super excited for this week’s wine based on the label alone. It reminded me of my wedding theme with the turquoise tree and little birds. My wedding colors were turquoise and brown and we utilized the image of a swallow in the details because of one of my husband’s tattoos. This label pulled at my heartstrings and had me ready to share a glass with my one and only.
I knew going in that Garnacha was another word for Grenache. Grenache is the term used in France and Garnacha in Spain. It is one of the most widely grown red grapes in the world and is generally used as a blending grape. This bottle, however, was comprised solely of Garnacha grapes.
Garnacha from Cariñena, Spain, has recently been lauded as some of the best quality wine at the best value that one can purchase currently. Cariñena’s weather makes for some great Garnacha growing. The altitudes are high, making the winds colder, stronger, and drier. These are referred to Cierzo winds. There are also large variations in the temperature at this altitude, which results in a smaller amount of grapes, but ones that are more intense in flavor.
This wine was from Cariñena, Spain and sampled on June 23, 2018. The deep red color drew me in along with the scents of cinnamon. My first taste was very light for such an opaque color. I was listening to “Kokomo” by The Beach Boys. It had very low acid. It really had more of a grape juice vibe. It could be too easy drinking in that way. It was perfect with the salmon patties. It brought down the spice just enough.
I gave this wine a rating of 2.0. In the end I couldn’t even pour a second glass because I was so disinterested. The lack of flavor was disappointing.
Sources:
https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/carinena-garnacha-spain-infographic/