La Garnacha Olvidada de Aragón 2022

La Garnacha Olvidada de Aragón is a varietal Garnacha from the D.O. Calatayud in western Aragón, made under Raúl Acha's project to recover and bottle old-vine Grenache from across Spain. The grapes come from old vineyards at the western edge of the appellation, where stony, low-fertility soils and a continental climate with hot days and cool nights keep yields low and the fruit aromatic. Garnacha grown this way gives bright red fruit and a peppery, herbal character rather than weight for its own sake. The wine spends ten months in French oak, a measured period that settles the tannins and adds a light frame of spice while keeping the fruit and freshness to the fore. The colour is a bright cherry red. The nose leads with ripe raspberry and strawberry, dark cherry and plum, lifted by black pepper and dried Mediterranean herbs. The palate is juicy and easy going, medium bodied, with soft tannins, fresh acidity and a clean fruited finish. This is an approachable red made for the table rather than the cellar. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees, lightly cooled if you prefer. It works with roast chicken, grilled pork and game birds.