Grab this Garnacha by the Bottles

Garnacha is of course the Spanish name for Grenache, the noble red work horse grape of southern France. However, its origins are in Spain, specifically the Aragon district of Zaragoza, south-east of Rioja. The appellation of this Grenache is Calatayud, created in 1989, and is the place where the oldest Garnacha vines are grown. The OGV brand is produced from 100% old bush wines, some over 50 years old, growing at a cool elevation of 800-1000 meters above sea level. The significant diurnal day-to-nighttime temperature fluctuation promotes excellent flavor development in the grapes, while consistent gentle winds help temper the extreme summer heat. Fermentation takes place in cement tanks followed by 6 months in oak barrels. We encounter a sexy wine with silky palate. The aroma is a perfect intermingling of blackberries and cherries. It has an excellent length accented by warm tannins. While sipping nicely on its own, it will bring out the best characteristics of a tomato and bell pepper gazpacho, grilled octopus or roast chicken with a chorizo sausage and paprika stuffing. It was rated 90 points by Luis Gutierrez of robertparker.com. At a very affordable retail price of $16.95, you can afford to grab a case from LCBO Vintages to enjoy now or lay down for a few years to develop further complexity.

2019 OGV Old Garnacha Vines LCBO # 13633, $16.95.