I love garnacha. It’s an easy, affordable, everyday wine that’s often more interesting than other wines in the price range. This one from Bodegas Paniza is a great example of why I think of garnacha in this way.
The vineyards where the grapes for this wine were grown are in Cariñena, the origin of carignan. But this isn’t a post about carignan, it’s about garnacha — and a tasty one.
This wine has a lovely, deep red color. The aromas feature blackberry, cedar, plum and spices with good balance. The palate has plenty of fruit, without becoming a fruit bomb. It offers tart blackberry, plum and blueberry flavors, with good concentration and a touch of spice. This is a pretty “big” garnacha. It has a rich mouthfeel, although it could be a little silkier. The finish is fairly long. Let this one breath for a while and it gets even better.
Wine: Vinas Viejas de Paniza
Varieties: Garnacha
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 87
Average price: $9.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.
