2015 Proyecto Garnachas de Espana La Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo: A Killer Value

It's often said that it's easy to find an excellent $50 wine but it's much more difficult to find an excellent $10 wine. There are certainly plenty of wines available for $10-$15 but not all of them are of the same quality. The best of those value wines over-deliver for their price, and you would have paid, without question, even more money for those wines. It's always an exciting time when I find one such wine, an inexpensive wine that is both complex and delicious.

You can find a number of these excellent value wines coming from Spain, and the importer Vintae is distributing some of these values, such as these two White Wines. Back in 1999, José Miguel Arambarri Terrero started a winery in Spain, eventually enlisting the assistance of his sons, Ricardo and José Miguel. They eventually expanded their operations, adding wineries, and are now producing wine in 15 Denominations of Origin (D.O). Their overall company became known as Vintae and they export many of their wines to the U.S. I'm here to showcase another of their wines, a great value Garnacha, which I received as a media sample.

Proyecto Garnachas de Espana is a project started by winemaker Raul Acha, who is also the Technical Director of Vintae. Raul is from Rioja, where Garnacha was once the main grape before Tempranillo eventually took center stage. He wanted to resurrect the importance of Garnacha and searched other areas of Spain, mainly in the Ebro Valley, for the best Garnacha, seeking sites that would reflect the intriguing terroir of this grape. Part of the reason for the decline of Garnacha is that some feel it has a complicated viticulture and is more difficult for production. However, Garnacha can make some amazing wines so it is important to ensure this grape thrives.

I received a media sample of the 2015 Proyecto Garnachas de Espana La Garnacha Salvaje del Moncayo ($11.99), which is made from 100% Garnacha from the Valle del Ebro and has a 13.5% ABV. It is fermented in stainless steel and then is aged for five months in new French oak barrels. Initially, I found a more subtle aroma on this wine, mild fruity notes with hints of spice. On the palate, the wine immediately impressed, presenting delicious black fruit flavors, enhanced with a touch of earthiness and spice, and there was even some minerality beneath it all. The tannins were well integrated, presenting a smooth and easy drinking wine, with a moderately lengthy and satisfying finish. It didn't take long for us to finish this bottle.  

This is a killer value wine, presenting more complexity than many other wines at this price point. You could easily enjoy this on its own, or accompanied with food, from pizza to ribs. I enjoyed this wine with some burgers and it was a tasty pairing. This is the type of wine you should buy by the case, to ensure you always have a bottle on hand in case you have guests stop by your home.