Cutio Garnacha

I tasted the 2021 Cutio Garnacha Cariñena next to the 2022, and the difference between the vintages was pretty obvious. It's a blend of Garnacha with 15% Cariñena from purchased grapes from growers they know well. It's a village wine from Almonacid, from a year with good ripeness, and the grapes developed fully, with aromas and flavors. It fermented destemmed and mostly unoaked and has 14.1% alcohol and a pH of 3.51. This is a lot fresher, and it's versatile, with power but also elegance and balance. It has intense aromas, with complexity, some notes of blood and iron intermixed with wild berry fruit, herbs and an earthy touch. It's very easy to drink, pleasant and with some spiciness. 45,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2023.

The red 2019 Cutio Garnacha Cariñena was produced in the village of Almonacid and now (since 2018) with 100% grapes from Almonacid too, from old vines with greater freshness and acidity. It's mostly Garnacha with some 15% Cariñena at some 690 meters in altitude. It fermented destemmed in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in underground concrete vats lined with epoxy. This feels deeper and more serious than the 2018; there's more wine, the texture is velvety and the tannins are fine grained and chalky. It became more and more floral as the wine sat in the glass, becoming also spicy with some white pepper notes. It's medium-bodied, balanced and long. A bargain. 35,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2021.

Ladies and gentlemen! We are in front of the wine with the best quality/price ratio I have tasted in a long, long time. It is wonderful! It is fresh, it displays aromas of blackberry, floral touches and lots of fruit. It is full of sweet fruit, although easy to drink, with round and tamed tannins, beautiful in texture. It is the greatness of a humble wine. It is going to evolve very well. It makes me think of Ferran Adrià's famous phrase: ‘better a good sardine than a bad lobster’. Well, this is the best simple wine I've tasted in a long time! Ah ... I forgot, the Spanish retail price is €6. Impressed! Wine of the year? VVGV - Very Very good value.

A rich, very fruity red with so much intensity, giving a light jam and transparent fruit vibe. It’s full-bodied with clear, round tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Drink now.