2021 Ribera del Queiles Salvaje del Moncayo Garnacha

Vintae

Vintae’s Winemaker Raúl Acha has made it his mission to showcase the many faces of Garnacha. His Proyecto Garnachas explores old-vine sites across Spain's Ebro Valley, highlighting how this historic grape can express dramatically different personalities depending on where it’s grown. Each wine is a snapshot of its vineyard's unique terroir.

The 2021 Ribera del Queiles Salvaje del Moncayo Garnacha’s grapes came from 100 year old Garnacha vineyards in Northern Spain’s Ribera del Queiles. Located in a watershed, on the north-facing slopes (800 metres elevation) of the Moncayo, the vineyard straddles the border of Aragón and Navarre. The vineyard soils are rocky with a high percentage of slate and pebbles, a combination that naturally limits yields and helps preserve freshness in the wine.

The 2021 growing season was characterized by very low rainfall and healthy fruit conditions, resulting in grapes with excellent concentration and aromatic expression.What makes this especially interesting for Garnacha in the Ebro Valley is that Moncayo's altitude creates significant day-night temperature swings. Even in warm years, the vineyards can retain acidity and aromatic lift, preventing the grapes from translating into overly jammy wines. These wines from this area are heralded as the freshest and most Atlantic-influenced expression of Garnacha in the Ebro Valley.

The 2021 Ribera del Queiles Salvaje del Moncayo Garnacha combines ripe red fruit and aromatic intensity with the freshness and lift that have become the wine's signature.

Fermentation took place at 25 degrees celsius in stainless steel tanks, macerating for 14 days. The wine was aged for 5 months in French oak barrels.

Tasting Note

The nose opens with black fruit aromas and a lifted minty character before vibrant, ripe red fruit jumps out of the glass. Strawberries and raspberries cascade across the palate. A very impressive Garnacha with an even more impressive price tag.

Food Pairing

Rather than rich food, this style of Garnacha wants something that leans smoky, salty, even slightly sweet. With its juicy strawberry and raspberry fruit and its supple texture, we recommend drinking the 2021 Ribera del Queiles Salvaje del Moncayo Garnacha with barbecued dishes like grilled sausages or grilled vegetables. The char from the grill will draw out the wine’s subtle savoury notes, while its bright berry fruit and soft finish will keep drawing you back to your glass.