Bodegas Leceranas Evohé Garnacha Vinas Viejas 2009

Aragon, Spain
www.evohegarnacha.com
$18-22 +664367   available at BC Liquor stores and select private liquor stores

Garnacha is the king of reds in Spain – the country’s most widely planted red grape. And in the relatively untouched Aragon, where Bodegas Leceranas is sited, is the ancestral area of Garnacha in Spain. The hand-picked old vines (vinas viejas) in this bottle are roughly 65 years old, though there are some in the area said to be well into their second century. The famers that grow the grapes for Evohe have done so for generations, so you can rightly expect a wine that is steeped in tradition. This wine is fermented in the village’s 100-year-old concrete vats, using natural wild yeasts, and is then clarified by filtering it through fine mesh. There is no oak treatment, and no bottle aging on this red, resulting in a vibrant and fruit forward wine, with ripe and rich raspberry, violet and pepper aromas. The palate is fresh and tannins are light and smooth, buoyed by cherry, red currants, anise, dark floral and kirsch flavours. If you want to try a historically evocative Garnacha, this is it. Savor with pork tenderloin, or grill up smoked Chorizo alongside local potatoes for a little Patatas Con Chorizo.

Bodegas Leceranas was begun in 2006 by three young wine enthusiasts: Ricardo Mosteo, Henrik Heikel and Alfonso Mort. Their philosophy is to produce modern wines using traditional techniques to celebrate Garnacha, so intrinsic to Aragon, in northeast Spain. The definition of Evohe doesn’t translate directly into English, but it is related to the exotic cry associated with Bacchic delight. Maybe that explains the stunning and stylized label.

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival starts next week! With Spain this year’s theme region, DRINK will be profiling exclusively Spanish wines leading up to the main event. Watch for tweets, postings, photos, tasting notes and features posted from the week-long festival. There are still a few tickets available to select events.

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Bodegas Leceranas Evohé Garnacha Vinas Viejas 2009

There is no oak treatment, and no bottle aging on this red, resulting in a vibrant and fruit forward wine, with ripe and rich raspberry, violet and pepper aromas. The palate is fresh and tannins are light and smooth, buoyed by cherry, red currants, anise, dark floral and kirsch flavours. If you want to try a historically evocative Garnacha, this is it. Savor with pork tenderloin, or grill up smoked Chorizo alongside local potatoes for a little Patatas Con Chorizo.