Winery: Grandes Vinos

Vintage: 2009

Wine Name/Vineyard: Corona D Aragon Riserva

Wine Category: Red Blend

Grape blend: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Carinena

Bottle size: 750 ml

Region: Carinena

State or country: Spain

Price: $11.00

ABV: 13.0%

Cases produced: N/A

The Barrel Cellar Score:  89 points

Review date: March 21, 2020

About the Winemaker:    In the mid-century 1900’s, a number of winegrowers from the Spanish district of Cariñena unified to form a number of cooperatives.  In 1997, these cooperatives unified to form Grandes Vinos.

Grandes Vinos now consists of more than 700 families.  They work together, share experience and knowledge, and build off years of old-world tradition to make a variety of excellent wines.

Color:  Burnt Umber

Nose:  Oak, Blackberry, and Cherry.

Taste: Oak up front and dried herbs.  Vanilla and pine nuts on the finish.

Assessment:  Grandes Vinos’ web site highlights that Cariñena (one of the grapes used in this blend), is the only land in the world that gives its name to a variety of grape.  While the Carinena in this blend is a unique grape, the wine itself is also quite unique.  The strong points of this wine can’t be understated.  It’s full bodied with a silky-smooth texture, the tannins really hit the mark and they are balanced perfectly against the acidity. It’s an old-world wine and it means to be; it’s dry and oaky.  Complexity, howerver, is where I’m scratching my head a bit.  The flavor profile in this wine is at a minumum; I didn’t detect much in the way of fruit or floral notes which I would expect in a similar wine.  Ready to drink now with some decanting.

Rating this wine was a bit difficult.  It’s definitely an enjoyable wine to drink, but for as high as the highs are, it feels like half of the experience is missing.  Complicating matters for me, is the price.  $11 a bottle is a darn good price, I could make this a daily sipper for that; in fact, I’d recommend doing so.  It really is an outstanding value and deserves atleast a couple of points for that.  Grandes Vinos Corona D Aragon Riserva is a very good wine (especially considering the value).  89 points.

Pairing recommendation:  Aged Manchego, Chicken Cacciatore, dark chocolate.