2012 Bodegas Bernabe Navarro “Tragolargo” Garnacha, Alicante, Spain.
I just couldn’t help but love this unique high elevation Grenache from Spain far south, from mountain vines in the Alicante region, it is wild, earthy, full of exotic flavors and peppery spices. This fun wine is not what you’d expect from the hot and arid south of Spain, as the wine is not jammy and still has austere freshness with a nice array of complexity and mineral stony elements. Bernabe Navarro is part of the Natural wine scene in Spain and organic dry farmed vines form his efforts, this wines are not for everyone, but they are well made and a great value, I have enjoyed the Mourvedre (Monastrell) cuvee in past vintages as well. The wine starts with pepper, truffle, hints of floral tones, dark fruit and lavender leading to a vibrant palate of tart plum, boysenberry, candied cherry and strawberry with minty herbs, red pepper, loamy earth, cedar and game. With a bit of air the mouth fills out, the texture comes out and a nicely balanced wine emerges with supple tannins and gravelly elements forming in the back ground while more lush fruit takes over with raspberry, briar and fennel notes lingering on the finish, this is not a flashy or lavish wine, but a solid country wine that has a lot of character and earthy charm, best with food, drink from 2015 to 2018, this is a wine that grows on you!
($15 Est.) 90 Points, grapelive
