2017 Albahra
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Tasting notes
A very alluring, wild-cherry and berry nose with wild herbs and some flinty, stony notes, too. Very detailed aromatically. The palate has such smoothly textured and fine tannins and delivers a mellow impression with gently meaty charcuterie and brambly berries intermingled. Elegant. Drink now.
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James Suckling
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
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The 2017 Albahra is a blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera from Almansa and 30% Moravia Agria from Manchuela, a blend that started in 2016. The Tintorera matured in concrete, and the Moravia Agria, which adds a lot of freshness, aged in used barriques. Even if central Spain suffered severe frosts that compromised yields and in some cases quality, the Mediterranean part of the country enjoyed a great harvest, and the wine shows another jump in quality. It's incredible how elegant Garnacha Tintorera can be—and how soft the tannins are—when the grape has a bad name for its rusticity and harsh tannins. It's a refreshing and elegant red. This has to be the finest Albahra to date and one of the greatest values from Spain. 40,000 bottles It was bottled in July 2018.