SECASTILLA 05 GARNACHA
Secastilla Garnacha shows the best side of the “traditional” school of Spanish winemaking. Fans of classic Chateauneuf du Pape will see a lot of similarities as the Secastilla rises above the glass with a perfume of dried violets and roses mixed with incense and sweet earth. The Secastilla vineyard is truly a special site with 100 year old vines growing on extremely rocky slopes at over 3,000 feet of elevation. Known for their Tio Pepe Sherry and Beronia Rioja, the Gonzalez Byass family are among the elite of the Spanish wine world. The pictures included here show you why the family was drawn to this remote site in the foothills of the Pyrenees for this new project.The Secastilla is quite rare with only about 100 6pks imported to the United States. There is plenty of raspberry, kirsch, and red plum fruit here, but the outstanding feature is the texture and finesse of the wine. The 2005 vintage is the current release, not a warehousing fluke. The long aging time has made for a seamless and satiny mix of flavors ranging from beautiful red fruit passing through waves of pot-pourri, cedar, Asian spices, sweet earth, and fine minerality. This is not a “Cab Drinkers” Grenache and is medium-bodied by design, but lovers of classic European winemaking will find lots to enjoy here.
