Viña Zorzal Garnacha Navarra 2019

wa91

$10.99

$9.89

SKU 05263

750ml

Their landscape differs from the much flatter areas of Navarra where Garnacha and Tempranillo are cropped in high volumes. Their vines grow on rocky and stony soils with variegated clays (heterogeneous), and limestone and composite soils. The fact that the clay-based soils are non-homogeneous makes them much more permeable and resistant to erosion than the soils of the Ebro Basin. They own 40 hectares, 25 of which planted with the traditional Garnacha of the land. The wild bush vines are old, many centenarian, and are farmed organically. The remaining land is planted with Graciano (which quickly made their fame), Tempranillo, and some Garnacha Blanca and Chardonnay.

The wines are made in a remodeled part of the family’s old winery, and the work in the cellar follows the work on the land, which they summarize here: “We practice low intervention, environmentally-friendly viticulture; we do not till the vineyards, and all processes are carried out manually; we use selected native plants for ground cover fertilizing with compost to improve the vine’s resistance to diseases. This philosophy is carried through to the winery, where our wines ferment spontaneously. We avoid racking, and don’t filter nor clarify. No additives are used, only a sufficient, moderate amount of sulphur.”

The fruit for this delightful little Garnacha comes from different plots in the Fitero village. Serve with cured meats and cheeses, stews, roasted vegetables, game and meat dishes.

Category	Red Wine
Varietal	Grenache
Region	Spain, Navarra
Brand	Viña Zorzal
Alcohol/vol	13.5%

wa91

Wine AdvocateThe entry-level red simply called 2019 Garnacha is what they define as their regional bottling, using grapes from the villages of de Corella, Cintruénigo and Fitero, produced in an approachable and easy-to-understand way. It had a gentle vinification, starting with grapes of moderate ripeness with a good pH, fermented with indigenous yeasts and using 20% full clusters. The difference in vintage is noticeable when tasted with a majority of 2018s; this is a clearly riper and more open vintage, with a more Mediterranean character, with sweet fruit and aromatic herbs. It reminds me of some of my favorite old-time unoaked Garnachas from Navarra. It has a serious palate, with freshness and chalky tannins and a serious finish. Great value!

Luis Gutierrez, April 30, 2020

Soulful Spain

Bodegas y Vinedos Valderiz Ribera del Duero 2016 750ml

The vineyards at Bodega y Viñedos Valderiz were first planted by Tomás Esteban's father in 1932. Today the family's vineyards cover 60 hectares, distributed over more than 35 plots on different soil types. The vines are pruned as traditional low “goblet” bushes. The vines were grafted with cuttings from the family's oldest vineyards. In 1980, Tomás Esteban considered his options for making the most of their plots of land in Ribera del Duero. Located in Roa, the heart of this region, the vineyard began to take shape over the next 10 years with the efforts and devotion of his sons Juan and Ricardo Esteban. Bodegas y Viñedos Valderiz came into being in 1997, and it is now one of the most highly respected wineries in the Duero. The family is also one of the forerunners in organic agriculture in the Ribera del Duero area, using zero herbicides, pesticides nor fertilizers. This practice has led to some development of biodynamic viticulture and since 2000, a small area of land has been cultivated using biodynamic practices.

ws96

$34.99 $31.49

Viña Zorzal Garnacha Navarra 2019

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