Pasos de San Martín 2016
DO Navarra, Artazu, 750 ml
| Grape variety: | Garnacha |
| Producer: | Bodegas y Viñedos Artazu |
| Origin: | Spain / Navarra |
| Other vintages: |
Description
A feast for Garnacha aficionados! This charmer from Navarre exudes notes of violets, ripe dark forest berries and some undergrowth, plus balsamic accents and a hint of mint and eucalyptus. The palate is powerful and vibrant, with lively acidity and fine tannins. Lots of juicy fruit, lots of warmth, super charming, but not trivial - we love it.
Attributes
| Origin: | Spain / Navarra |
| Grape variety: | Garnacha |
| Ripening potential: | 3 to 10 years after harvest |
| Drinking temperature: | 16 to 18 °C |
| Food Pairing: | Moroccan specialities, Saddle of lamb fillet with herb jus, Roast saddle of venison, Hearty stew with pulses, Risotto with ceps |
| Vinification: | fermentation in steel tank, Pumping over, fermentation at low temperatures |
| Harvest: | hand-picking, strict selection, in small boxes |
| Maturation: | in tonneau, in partly new and used barriques/ Pièces |
| Maturation duration: | 12 months |
| Volume: | 14.5 % |
| Note: | Contains sulphites |
Bodegas y Viñedos Artazu
Bodegas y Viñedos Artadi is a Spanish winery group whose vineyards are in Alicante (Valencia), in the northeastern region of Navarre and in Álava and Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country. In 1985, a group of winegrowers founded this private cooperative project, which, with one tiny exception, only produces single-grape-variety wines.
Today it is run by a nature-loving family in cooperation with the top winemaker Juan Carlos López de Lacalle, maintaining a high standard of quality and pursuing a consistent terroir philosophy. His passion is the Garnacha grape variety. Since 2011, the vineyards have been cultivated according to biodynamic guidelines. Juan Carlos' motto is "a sense for nature and tireless work will lead us to success".
Bodega Artazu is located in the medieval wine-growing town of Artazu (Valdizarbe) in northern Navarre, where the Artadi Group has been growing wine since 1996. The vineyards are located around Artazu and in San Martín de Unx at a slightly cooler altitude of up to 600 metres. Garnacha vines have been growing there for over 60 years. The perfect conditions for aromatically dense wines that reflect their unique terroir. Juan Carlos is a master at vinifying individual plots and developing their terroir character.
Garnacha
Grenache seldom comes alone
Spaniards and Sardinians make the Grenache contentious: both claim it originated from their country. In fact, it had already appeared in both places by the 16th century. But a large number of mutations in Spain indicates that it has deeper roots on the Iberian Peninsula. The Grenache is meaty, rich in tannins and spicy, with a wonderful, fruity sweetness and rich aromas of blackberry, cassis, plums and pepper. Under the name Garnacha, it contributes fullness to the Rioja. In Sardinia it is called Cannonau, where it yields strong, expressive wines. But its stronghold is in France. Grenache is the star in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and streams into many other assemblages from the south. Its preferred partners are Syrah and Mourvèdre. This blend is also very popular abroad. In Australia, these wines are simply called "GSM".
Navarra
Navarre: a land of many terroirs
Until 1841, Navarre was an independent kingdom with a rich wine culture. Thanks to varying soil types and equally diverse climatic influences, Navarra has an amazing array of wines. The spectrum ranges from substantial Chardonnays to drinkable rosés to red wines, where international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot often set the tone along with Tempranillo and Garnacha. Exquisite sweet wines from Moscatel grapes are also vinified here.
Spain
Spain – Variety and perfection
“Somewhere in la Mancha, in a place whose name I do not care to remember...,” begins Don Quixote's odyssey.
The most famous part is definitely when Don Quixote thinks windmills are his enemy and wants to fight them – until they nearly kill him. It’s possible there was a bit too much of the La Mancha wine at play. Spanish vines fight for their survival in rugged landscapes, battling fierce drought and rough soils. But they fight well.
