By Vegalfaro
Pago de los Balagueses Garnacha Tintorera 2016

Vineyard
Vineyard Age: 35 years
Variety: 100% Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet)

Altitude and Soils
780 meters. Limestone, sandy loam with calcareous rock on the higher slopes. Gravel and sand on the lower plateau.

Vineyards
Our vineyards of Garnacha Tintorera are trained using the popular double cordon system situated in a unique area of seven hectares amidst pines, almond trees, and wild aromatic plants. Yields are quite low on average - under 2.9 kg per vine - with organic viticultural practices that encourage biodiversity and the sustainability of these vineyards. Quality is foremost, performing green harvests to reduce yields and thus ensure optimal tannic ripeness.

Production
The hand-harvested grapes with optimum maturity are only destemmed and not crushed, with a pre-maceration (cold soak) prior to fermentation using indigenous yeasts. Fermentation is controlled at 28C with gentle remontage and grape skin breakup by pigeage, followed by maceration on the skins for 20 days. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in French and Hungarian barrels and subsequently aged for 10-12 months using 70% new oak and 30% used Bordelese barrels. Bottling with a minimum of six months in cellar prior to sale. Through these arduous efforts, we achieve the maximum expression of Garnacha Tintorera and the unique character of the Pago.

Tasting Notes
A dense garnet color with notable stained legs and brilliance. On the nose, there is an intense aroma of red and black wild berries, subtle balsamic, and toast with earthy black pepper and anise notes. The palate delivers sweet and juicy small blackberries with licorice hints, fine silky tannins, lively acidity, and warming integrated alcohol of a medium-weight body. Long, fine, elegant, and versatile with a range of dishes.

Service and Pairing
Pairing: Bluefish, stews and casseroles, braised lamb, game, and cured cheeses
Temperature: 14-16 degrees

Analytics
Alcohol: 15.00%
Total Acidity: 6.3 gr/l
Total So2: 70 gr/l
[Information provided by W. Direct]

Vegalfaro Garnacha Tintorera 2016 Pago de Los Balagueses
Producer: Vegalfaro
Grape Variety: Garnacha Tintorera
Appellation: Pago de Los Balagueses
Region: Valencia
Country: Spain
Colour: Red
Alcohol: 15.00%
Score: 17.5/20
When to drink: 2019 - 2025
Published on: 20 Mar 2019
Date tasted: 25 Feb 2019
Reviewer: Tamlyn Currin
Single vineyard, certified organic.
There's a Mediterranean-garrigue aroma, lifting over a darker scent of leather and baked dark cherries and cocoa. Dry and savoury, the leather and cocoa coming forward, tannins tight and gleaming with racehorse power. There is spice, but you sense it more in the texture than in the flavour. A wine with enormous presence and real fire at the back of the throat, and yet it's carrying all this magnitude with surprising grace and elegance. Long, and incredibly fine on the finish. Bravo. (TC)