Christie Kiley on May 5, 2014 0 Comments Have any of you uncovered and dusted off the grill yet? What is taking you so long? Get in the spirit! Warm weather and beautiful cool evenings with friends out on the patio is just around the bend. Before the friends come over, I think it might be a good idea to get everything warmed up a bit. Have a little practice. Get some salmon steaks, zucchini, eggplant and some fresh goat cheese and let’s cook out. After you get those ingredients, pick up this wine; the Braña Vieja Garnacha Rosé from Navarra, Spain. It is fruity, refreshing and oh-so-spring-in-a-glass! Grapes have been grown in the Navarra region of Spain long before even the Romans. From the region of Navarra, just a bit north of Rioja and east of the Basque country the vineyards are situated and planted on rolling hillsides and at the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. The area is very unique with several factors that affect its climate and microclimates; the Bay of Biscay from the northwest, the Pyrenees to the northeast and the Ebro River. The result is very much Mediterranean which makes for moderate temperatures, enabling them to grow a variety of grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo, Viura, Chardonnay, Moscatel, Garnacha Blanc and a few others including Garnacha. This little grape makes some of the best and prized rosé from the region. Do not pay any mind to the price (Psst, it is really affordable!) or even some of the so very underrated scores for this wine. After trying it myself, I was slightly appalled. I think I might have even said to myself out loud, “They don’t know what they are talking about.” I followed that comment with a roll of the eyes, a purse of the lips and had another sip. Did these critics even taste the wine?! If you don’t normally even like rosé, then you shouldn’t rate it. Garnacha is one of Spain’s most widely planted varietals, second, in fact to the Airen white varietal. Garnacha makes a great rosé for a couple reasons; it is light bodied, the flavors from this grape result in light red fruits and as its flesh is nice and light which has the ability to keep the wine light and maintain the integrity and characteristics from its terroir. Something also special grape: it is a Teinturier varietal. Some of you wine geeks might have heard of this term, but for those of you who haven’t, it refers to a red varietal whose skin is red (almost black really) and likewise is its flesh. This makes for a rich rose with intense and beautifully intriguing color. This wine is made like many traditional rosé via the method of ‘bleeding’, when the grapes’ juices are drained from after a few hours/days soaking with the skins to impart some additional color. The result, at least for the Braña Vieja-Garnacha Rosé 2012, is one of a gorgeous color of strawberry juice perhaps mixed with some bright red cherries. It is the color of a perfect ruby gemstone. I loved the nose on this wine! Did I mention spring-in-the-glass? This Spanish wine has perfumes of wild strawberries, raspberries, just under-ripe peaches and has great minerality, almost a dusty earth salinity too, if that could be a combination. The first sip is so refreshing and just crisp! Your mouth fills with strawberries, fresh, young and juicy raspberries. The finish is a bit tart, but in a juicy green apple sort of way. If you don’t want to make the effort for the grilled salmon suggestion I mentioned earlier, chill the wine and get a picnic together: prosciutto, fresh goat cheese, strawberries and brown sugar, some creamy brie cheese to spread over fresh baguette slices. You’ve got yourself a great spring afternoon in the park! More Wine Reviews: Cape Bleue Rosé 2012 from Jean-Luc Colombo Saviah Cellars 2011 GSM, Elephant Mountain Vineyard Cakebread Cellars Red Hills 2010 Zinfandel Peller Estates 2006 Cabernet Franc Icewine
