Product 2/29

Bodegas Alto Moncayo Alto Moncayo

larger image

$37.95

Year: 2007
Region: Campo de Borja
Country: Spain
Wine Spectator: 91
Wine Advocate: 94
International Wine Cellar: 93
Red Wine

Add to Cart:

"Rich yet supple, this expressive red wraps chocolate and cola notes around a core of ripe cherry and berry fruit. There's a firm but lively structure and a warm, spicy finish. Drink now through 2014. 600 cases imported." (WS)

"The same can be said for the 2007 Alto Moncayo, also 100% Garnacha. It offers up a similar aromatic and flavor profile, just at a slightly higher octane level. This opulent effort is all about pleasure; give it 3-4 years of additional cellaring if you’d like it a bit more civilized.

Old vine Garnacha made under the supervision of renowned vigneron Chris Ringland is the story at Bodegas Alto Moncayo in the little known DO of Campo de Borja. (WA)

"($45; 100% garnacha) Deep, bright ruby. Complex bouquet offers scents of blueberry, boysenberry, cola, dark chocolate and mace. Broad, sweet dark berry flavors display liqueur-like depth and power and are nicely framed by velvety tannins. A tangy mineral note gains strength with air and adds vivacity to the long, sweet, spicy finish. I'd drink this alluring wine on the young side for its exuberant fruit character." (IWC)

SPAIN’S ALTO MONCAYO PRODUCES ANOTHER 94/95 POINT WINNER WITH THEIR 2007 OLD VINE GRENACHE 2007 ALTO MONCAYO GRANACHA, from Campo de Borja, Spain

This is the third vintage in a row that I have highly recommended this intense, full-bodied old vine Grenache estate bottled by Bodegas Alto Moncayo. This ’07 ranks equally with their fabulous 2005 and is a touch better then there excellent 2006. This is world class Grenache, in the same league as a top Chateauneuf-du-Pape and surpassing nearly all Gigondas. This ’07 exhibits a deep Purple color with expressive expansive aromatically enticing aromas and flavors of dark cherries, black raspberries, roasted almonds, anise and oriental spices. Enjoyable now, the wine will gain in complexity for another 3 or 4 years and keep well until the early or mid 2020’s.

The areas named for the Borja family that were lords of the region for centuries. And, yes the Borjas of Aragon are the same Borgias of Italy. The spelling changed to the Italian with Alfonso de Borja elevation to Pope in 1455, taking the name of Callistus III. He also has the distinction of being the father (sans marriage vows, of course) of Cesare Borgia and his poisoning sister Lucratia Borgia. The Campo de Borja area is in north-central Spain (Aragon) about 40 miles from the southern border of the Rioja. The region received its on appellation in 1980 and has several relatively well-known producers of which Alto Moncayo now reins as numero uno.

Regular price is around $46 plus, with L.A. Wine Co. having it on special for under $38.

RATING: 94/95

PRICE: $37.95, ***bargain

WHERE: Los Angeles Wine Co.

(Martin's Guide to Wine Bargains)

"In honor of Spain’s victory in the World Cup, I decided to pop a bottle of old vine Garnacha. Let me tell you, drinking this wine is WAY more exciting than watching 90 minutes of scoreless soccer. Then again, so is being punched in the head, but that’s beside the point. In all seriousness, this might be the most exciting wine I’ve had all year! I’m not finished with the bottle, and I already can’t wait until the next time I get to drink this.

This wine pours and inky purple- so dense that the bubbles look almost as dark as the wine itself. The nose is sweet and absolutely jumps out of the glass. I’m not sure how the Spanish get their Garnacha (aka Grenache) so concentrated. Blueberry syrup comes to mind. This is muscular, firm and sweet but still manages to be refined despite its 16%(!!!) alcohol.

Chris Ringland, the man behind many of Australia’s best values (Pillar Box Red), is the mastermind of this fantastic wine. It was rated 94 points from the Wine Advocate and 93 from Stephen Tanzer’s notoriously stingy International Wine Cellar. This wine is drinking great today but will likely last for 10 years. I see no reason to wait on it because it’s SO good right now."(Nickel & Dime)

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 03 June, 2010.

Printer friendly version.