deAlto La Planta Magica Garnacha Viñas Viejas 2019

DOCa Rioja, Spain

Producer: deAlto

An unashamedly contemporary style of rioja that relies not on oak or age but on quality of fruit and a subtle, nuanced approach to winemaking.

What marks out this wine is the quiet, brooding intensity on the nose that gives way to a rich, yet lean palate of wild, dark cherry, warm spices, cranberry and liquorice. The spice from the french oak is integrated and supporting without dominating. Spectacular fruit with huge reserves of energy are the signature of this remarkable new expression of Rioja. 

La Planta Magica is named after the Mistletoe to be found in the almond trees that surround this old, bush trained Garnacha Vineyard. Close to the town of Aldeanueva in the Rioja Oriental, this small vineyard has beautifully balanced vines that yield very small quantities of fruit. A remarkable vineyard just waiting to be rediscovered as one of the jewels of Rioja. 

Detailed information on this wine is available here.

Suitable for Vegetarians & Vegans

Press and Awards: 

• 92 points - The Real Review (Stuart Knox)
  'Medium, intense ruby-red colour in the glass. The nose lifts with crushed raspberries, rosemary and woody spices. Medium-weighted palate, good intensity of dark fruits with spice and earth layered underneath. A hint of freshening acidity gives lift, and the tannin profile is soft but gives good length.'
  
  
• 91 points - The Wine Front (Gary Walsh)
  'Old bush vine Garnacha here. Cherries, spice, and quite a lot of dill and coconut resinous oak showing. It’s fresh, all cherries and strawberry, some liquorice, again the vanilla coconut wood, dried mint, supple tannin and a fresh finish of good length, with some stickiness to the tannin as it goes. The oak treatment is kind of a shame in a way, though that often comes with the territory, I guess. Quality expressive fruit shines through here though.'
• 91 points - Tim Atkin MW, 2021 Rioja Special Report

Grape Variety: Garnacha

Colour: Red

ABV: 14%