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Budget Wine: Honoro Vera Garnacha Calatayud 2012
Grenache is usually a blending grape in France, but across the border in Spain it is a standalone varietal producing rich, deeply concentrated wine, especially when sourced from the hillside vineyards...
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Budget Wine: Buscado Garnacha Spain 2013
Oh my. Caveat Emptor. Previous vintages of this wine have received some glowing reviews, not the least from Wilfred Wong who gave the 2011 93 points, saying “This one is fully-loaded, the flamboyant...
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Budget Wine: La Paca Garnacha Calatayud 2013
Continuing my exploration of bargain imported wines from Trader Joe’s, here is a very approachable Garnacha (Grenache if you’re French) for $7. Ripe strawberry and dark fruit aromas are complemented...
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Wine Review: Azul y Garanza Garciano Navarra, Spain 2012
Aside from Sherry, Spain is best known for its elegant, vanilla-scented, aged Riojas made primarily from Tempranillo, and the massive, rugged, deeply concentrated, wines of Priorat anchored primarily...
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Bodegas Breca Garnacha de Fuego Old Vines Calatayud 2013
As usual, Spain comes through with great bargains. This Garnacha is made from 60-80 year old vines perched 3000 feet above sea level and dry-farmed despite the sparse rainfall in this region. This is...
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Budget Wine Review: 5G Cinco Garnachas Torres Winery Campo de Borja, 2015
Loaded with rustic vitality, aromas of baking spices, dried herbs, and damp leaves envelop ripe, red plum and blueberry. Medium grain tannins and bright acidity mix with apple cider hints giving this...
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Budget Wine Review: Bodegas Breca Garnacha de Fuego Spain 2016
Bodegas Breca is noted for their old vine vineyards in the mountains of Southern Catalyud from which they’ve produced impressive, affordable Garnacha since 2010. Unlike other bottlings from Bodegas...
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Budget Wine Review: Honoro Vera Garnacha Calatayud 2017
I’m revisiting an old friend here. One of the more satisfying budget wines available, but it’s been a few vintages since I last wrote about this consistently good wine from the hot, dry deserts of...
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Wine Review: Mas Doix “Les Crestes” Priorat 2016
I am a card-carrying member of the “wine faults can be interesting” club. I’m not put off by a bit of volatile acidity or brett. But there are limits. And this wine crosses the line with volatile...
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Wine Review: Bodegas Palacios Remondo La Montesa Rioja Crianza 2017
This is a delicious Garnacha (95%) and may be the best value I’ve seen this year. It suggests a new direction for Rioja. Aromas of expressive dark cherry, red raspberry, fennel and mint are framed...
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