Another Home Run at $12, perfect with pizza...

January 23, 2010

Another find from yesterday at the Austin Wine Merchant.  Ran errands, did chores, worked outside cleaning up the yard after the hard freeze damages, walked the dogs, cleaned the kitchen,  and just so didn't want to face a grocery store or cook. Wimped out and ordered in pizza.

Popped open the  El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, 2008 Old Vine Garnacha from the Navarra. Lovely rich nose of fruit that is both red and black at the same time, but not heavy.  A supple elegant palate, dark fruits, with a pepper, slightly salty thing and crisp light acids. PERFECT with the pizza (my usual, sausage, mushroom, pepperoni, green peppers and extra cheese on thin crust).  

I have to say this is right up there with any Garnacha from Spain I've had in a while. So many of them are so over ripe, almost sweet, or clunky on the palate with too much acid and earth. Not this one. Elegance personified. Touches of tar and earth, but oh so smoooooth. Glad there's a half bottle left to sip on while I watch my Saturday night "junk food TV" COPS and the Mecum Car Auctions.

Drink this wine!

Cheers,

Rob Moshein, Austin Wine Guy