Vinas Viejas de Paniza Garnacha – Rich and Delicious

I love garnacha.  It’s an easy, affordable, everyday wine that’s often more interesting than other wines in the price range.  This one from Bodegas Paniza is a great example of why I think of garnacha in this way.

The vineyards where the grapes for this wine were grown are in Cariñena, the origin of carignan.  But this isn’t a post about carignan, it’s about garnacha — and a tasty one.

This wine has a lovely, deep red color.  The aromas feature blackberry, cedar, plum and spices with good balance.  The palate has plenty of fruit, without becoming a fruit bomb.  It offers tart blackberry, plum and blueberry flavors, with good concentration and a touch of spice.  This is a pretty “big” garnacha.  It has a rich mouthfeel, although it could be a little silkier.  The finish is fairly long.  Let this one breath for a while and it gets even better.

Wine: Vinas Viejas de Paniza
Varieties: Garnacha
Vintage: 2012
Alcohol: 14%
Rating: 87
Average price: $9.00
Disclosure: This wine was received as a media sample.