Proyecto Garnachas de España, La Garnatxa Fosca, Priorat, Spain 2019

Proyecto Garnachas de España is a project led by Raul Acha to protect Spain's old Garnacha vines. Priorat and old vines – usually this combination means big money. But not the case with this Garnacha from 60 year-old vines (see the picture on the moody front label) grown on the region's famous slate-rich soils. Like many Priorat reds, this is pretty high in alcohol, but it's extremely well balanced. Warm and concentrated it is – why else would you buy a red wine from this region? – but there's a lovely, spicy and expressive nose of red cherry and red plum fruit, and cedary oak. Very classy stuff, and a great winter warming red.