Breca 2022

Breca is a red wine from D.O. Calatayud in Aragón, made by Bodegas Breca, part of the Jorge Ordóñez group, in Munébrega near Zaragoza. It is one hundred percent Garnacha from old vines planted between 1925 and 1945, set on hilltops at 900 metres on clay soils of decomposed slate. The combination of old, low-yielding vines and high altitude is what shapes this wine: the slate soils stress the vines and concentrate the fruit, while the elevation and a dry continental climate of hot days and cold nights preserve freshness and aromatic detail in the ripe Garnacha. The high alcohol of fifteen and a half percent reflects the warmth and full ripeness of the fruit. The wine ages for thirteen months in French oak, which knits the tannins together and adds a savoury layer of spice and toast while the bright Garnacha fruit leads. It shows a deep colour and aromas of ripe red and dark berries, black pepper and liquorice over a smoky, mineral edge. The palate is full and warm, with ripe tannins, generous fruit and a long, spiced finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees; it suits grilled and roasted red meat.