This Grenache from the Campo De Borja is a much darker crimson that what you would expect of a grenache. This wine could pass for a rich Cabernet or Merlot with a dark cherry rim and sturdy youthfulness by appearance.
The nose of this wine is full of raspberries and dark plum fruit with some wonderful floral tones. In the mouth this wine gives a front palate blast of spice with intense flavors yet tightly wound on opening but still hints of white pepper at rear palate.
With breathing, this wine intensifies to yield loads of ripe plummy fruit with marvelously integrated tannins. This wine will age for a couple more years. This is not your mother’s Grenache. It is unlike any grenache I have ever had. This is bold, not finessed or elegant, just incredibly fruity pleasure with full bodied boldness.
With a little more time there is another layer of dill and more big fruit. At 15.5% alcohol, you have to watch how much you enjoy it!
My wife brought this back with her from a recent trip to Chicago. She bought it on recommendation of one of the store’s wine consultants. Again, this was a nice recommendation as I would never even think to pay $38 for a Grenache which is what this cost.
Now here is the perplexing part. The Wine Spectator gave this wine a shocking 82 points. The Wine Enthusiast gave it a 93! This wine is much closer to a 93 than an 82. Go figure and raise a glass!
Alto Moncayo Garnacha 2003 was scored 93 by Robert Parker. Some of the scores at Wine Spectator seem off. While certain wines are being scored high by the likes of Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits, Robert Parker and Decanter, Wine Spectator score wines lower. In the end what is important is that YOU like the wine regardless of score. Cheers!
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