2016 Herencia Altes La Peluda [WA91][JD90]

Producer: Herencia Altés 
Region: D.O. Terra Alta, Catalonia, Spain 
Varietal: Garnacha Peluda (Grenache) 
Year: 2016 

Wine Advocate, 91 Points 

"Produced with the "hairy" strain of Garnacha called Garnacha Peluda, the 2016 La Peluda is an airy, fresh and elegant interpretation of the grape, from a strain that tends to deliver more delicate wines to start with. It still has 15% alcohol, so it's not a shy wine; it's a juicy and chewy Mediterranean red with good freshness and integrated oak. It matured in oak vats for 12 months. I liked the spiciness and the somewhat wild character of this red, which had some rusticity that gave it character. Tasty and sleek. 15,000 bottles were filled in September 2017." 

Jeb Dunnuck, 90 Points 

"A great value from a tiny region in Catalunya, the 2016 La Peluda (100% Garnatxa Peluda aged 12 months in demi-muids offers classic notes of melted licorice, roasted herbs, and road asphalt as well as a rocking core of sweet kirsch and black cherry fruit. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, and layered, it’s not a heavyweight and has a charming, elegant, incredibly drinkable style"

Winemaking:

The peluda variety is picked by hand separately from the garnataxa negra variety, although ripening times were similar. De-stemming, and crushing followed by fermentation in stainless steel at 23-26°C. with daily remontage. Malolactic fermentation and aging for 10 months in new 500 litre barrels, French, Hungarian origin. 6,000 bottles produced. 

Alcohol: 14.5%

Organically grown. 

*Price and availability in store may vary. Vintage date may differ from pictured.