Hilanda means the synchronous nature where the vines are planted 1 meter apart and the rows are 1 meter wide. The vineyards are high altitude, 2300 – 2650 feet above sea level, dry farmed and completely organic. The average age of the vines are 25-40 years old, and the yields are tiny – less than 1.4 tons per acre! This is largely due to the harsh climate, and while the vineyards produce less fruit – the stress makes the fruit it does produce much higher quality and better flavor. The wine is a nice purple hue in the glass and has a lovely bouquet of dark berries and spicy Earth. The palate is rich and smooth, with rich blueberry notes with red cherry hues mixed with earthy notes, smooth tannins and a hint of minerality.
Alceo means Perseus, and the wine is named for the Greek God. In Greek mythology, Perseus, the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty of Danaans, was the greatest Greek hero and slayer of monsters before the days of Hercules. It is an appropriate name, as this wine is a monster slayer of sorts – it slays wines that are much more expensive! It is 100% Tempranillo and the family uses dry farming practices (no irrigation) is grown organically without chemicals, hand harvested from vines around 20 years old and only natural yeasts are used for fermentation. It is only aged 5 months in oak before it is released, ready to be enjoyed!
Campo de Borja (which rather grandly calls itself ‘The Empire of Garnacha’), is a DO of 6,000 hectares in Zaragoza province, between Navarra and Catalayud, in the broad, almost delta-like flood plains of Rio Ebro, after it departs la Rioja and before it reaches Priorat and its Mediterranean shore. Above these floodplains, the slopes leading up to the Moncayo mountain have a special microclimate among the 16 municipalities of the DO. Young gun winemaker, Isaac Fernandez works in the highest, most extreme parts of Campo de Borja that forces the vines to struggle to grow. This ripe, savoury entry level Garnacha is sourced from bush vines around 25 years old that are grown at around 600 metres altitude on gravelly chalky loam. The fruit is hand-picked then fermented in stainless steel, and bottled directly from these vats to emphasise a vibrant, lively fruit character.
Fresh, juicy and stacked with fruit – in a word delicious.
Very deep dark red black colour with a bright dark crimson red hue. A combination of ripe dark raspberry and dark cherry aromas show good aromatic lift prevailing over some liquorice, juicy plum, subtle scorched earth notes and incense. Light to medium weight, juicy and utterly delicious the palate sports ripe dark raspberry, plum and liquorice flavours delicately infused with incense over some light scorched earth characters and spice. Bright finish with a refined yet supportive tannin structure. Excellent length with a long savoury aftertaste of dark raspberries, plums, liquorice, subtle scorched earth and spice.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
