2007 Evodia, Evodia Old Vine Garnacha

Calatayud, Central Spain

Color: Red
Name: Evodia
Vineyard: Evodia Old Vine Garnacha
Type: Garnacha
Origin: Calatayud, Central Spain
Year: 2007
Price: $10.00
Rating: 4.9
Pocho's Pick
Review: In the glass: Evodia (the Greek word for aroma) is a deep crimson-red color with purplish streaks, a purple to pink rim with medium-high viscosity. On the nose: The wine is full of pure extracted crushed peppery black fruit, ripe blueberries, boysenberry sauce and spicy vanilla extract from oak, then notes of new American oak by itself, soft jammy berry components and a touch of smoke, licorice root and earthy minerals underlying. On the palate: Evodia is big and spicy, then juicy in the mouth with nicely complex, concentrated chewy blackberry fruit, licorice root, crushed brambleberries, pepper-laced minerals, and then soft, almost chewy, tannins going into a superbly balanced midpalate that is smooth around the mouth, although retains a sense of freshness from the relatively forward acidity. The deep fruity finish has a nice mouth-feel that lasts for 20-plus seconds, and shows why wines made from Old Vines are profound to taste, from a concentration point of view. Odds and ends: Although garnacha is a grape varietal that is native to the Rhone Valley in France where it is called grenache, it has been in Spain for centuries. In many cases, the vines from which the fruit for this wine was made are as much as 100 years old. In addition, the dry-farmed vineyards are high up in the foothills of this mountainous region of Spain in pure slate soil. The wine's name is the Greek word for "aroma" and there's plenty of that in this hit-in-the-making for less than $10. Drink it now through 2011, and try it with a grilled piece of flank steak, sliced and medium-rare served with salsa. Like an active talent scout touting the next Hollywood star or Billboard Chart-topper, we’ve stumbled upon the next “it” wine. We’re going out on a bit of a limb here, but this stuff is liquid gold! Introducing the next big-time wine of the moment: the 2007 Altovinum Evodia Garnacha from Spain. This is a 100% Garnacha from the mountain village of Atea in the Calatayud region of Northeast Spain. This wine doesn’t see any oak, which allows for the bold yet extremely bright fruit flavors to come out. We got juicy, red berries with a bit of spiciness and little to no tannin when we coiffed this Spanish temptress. This is one of those wines that drinks like a champ, but for some reason, is priced way lower than it could be. From the expert hands of European Cellars comes a wine that has just started to invade the market. Look for it at your favorite wine bar soon. Drink with some hard Spanish cheese and olives, a nice cut of beef or whatever you’re whipping up on a cold Monday night.
Comments:

The Nillni's Great Wine Tasting Adventure

2007 Evodia, Evodia Old Vine Garnacha