The 2007 Atteca Old Vines, by Bodegas Ateca, starts from 80 to 120-year-old Garnacha vines hand-harvested from the arid, mineral-rich soils of hillside vinyards 3,000 feet above sea level. These Garnacha vines yield a staggeringly small amount of fruit, at only 1 ton per hectare (about 2.5 acres), resulting in beautifully concentrated inky dark fruit.

Tasting notes

This is a full bodied wine with a deep red/purple color and a nose of fresh raspberry, cherries and wet rock. On the palate there is ripe red raspberry jam, black plum, cranberry, leather and some spicy pepper. This is a big wine with great personality. This Spanish red is quite jammy and zesty and the delicious fruit flavors are blanketed in smooth tannins and finished with a touch of creamy oak.

Review

Robert Parker Review: The 2007 Atteca was sourced from 80- to 120-year-old head pruned Garnacha vines and aged for 10 months in seasoned French oak. Deep purple-colored, it exhibits an impressive nose of crushed stone, black cherry, and plum. This is followed by a full-bodied wine with layers of savory fruit, spice notes, and silky tannin. This balanced effort will evolve for another 1-2 years and drink well through 2017.-Jay Miller Wine Spectator Review: Toasted vanilla and smoke notes accent raspberry and black cherry fruit in this sleek red, which has enough tannins for grip. The fresh finish echoes with dark chocolate and spice. Drink now through 2011. 1,250 cases imported. –TM Wine Enthusiast Review: Jammy, rich and a little sweet and reduced on the nose, but once this baby unwinds there’s no stopping it. The palate is exceedingly fresh and exuberant, with strawberry and raspberry flavors. Lively to the end; a fruit-lover’s wine with no leash. Drink sooner than later to capture the wine’s pointed red-fruit essence. - M.S.

Rating

Robert Parker Rating:90 Points Wine Spectator Rating:90 Points Wine Enthusiast Rating:88 Points

Food pairing

This wine can pair well with any hearty or spicy meal or would be great for a backyard barbeque.