This easy going red delivers on any night of the week and flawlessly for a BBQ or picnic. On the nose, ripe
loganberry, black cherry and vanilla waft from the glass. A few swirls reveal subtle scents of aromatic
underbrush with a whiff of marjoram. On the palate, red and black plum flavors have a gamey edge and a
note of blood orange. The wine is full-bodied and meaty with taut acidity.
Ripe loganberry, black cherry, red plum, blood orange, earth.
Though situated on the highway that connects Madrid and Barcelona, Calatayud feels a bit like a place that
time forgot. Here, winemaking dates back to the Romans, and the landscape is dotted with crumbling castles
and fading monasteries. Calatayud is just about the perfect growing climate for Garnacha (Grenache). Seated
among craggy mountains rising from the valley floor, vineyards hang at altitudes of 1,500 to 3,000 feet. The
climate is continental, with hot summers and brutally cold winters. Of greatest import are the soils, a rocky
terrain of red and white slate backed by chalk-rich clay. Garnacha, a vigorous vine, needs these mineral-rich,
well-draining soils to keep its vegetal growth in check and concentrate its energy into producing complex
fruit. Monte Vicor, a brand owned by the fifth-generation winemaking Langa family, takes advantage of the
terroir with this bright, succulent wine composed of fruit from Garnacha vineyards that average over 50
years old.
Pork and lamb are the classic accompaniments to red wine in Spain, and the Monte Vicor Garnacha will be
an excellent partner to both. Its medium tannins, fresh acidity and deep, juicy fruit will stand up to hearty
roasts, and the wine will also be great with quick-cooking chops and meaty pastas or ragouts. Pungent
seasonings like fresh herbs and garlic will complement the wine's intense flavors, while fruity accents, such
as dried figs or apricots, will play to its lush side.
The first century poet Martial was born in Calatayud. He is considered to be the creator of the modern
epigram. The enduring literary interest of Martial’s epigrams arises as much from their literary quality as
from the colorful references to human life that they contain. For many literary critics, he was the original
insult comic.
