From: Navarra, Spain
Varietal: Graciano
Tasting Notes: This is a clear, medium-intensity, ruby-colored wine. It has clean, high-intensity, fresh aromas of red and black fruits like raspberry, red plum skin, mulberry, and blackcurrant. Lively notes of black pepper, herbs, and earthy tones follow suit, and the results are wonderfully balanced, fresh, and delicious. The palate matches the aromas in the glass, its fruit and spice notes reigned in by friendly tannins and a medium body with lip-smacking acidity that’ll make you crave food and conversation. It should be noted that Viña Zorzal cultivates a different strain of Graciano from the norm, delivering less color and body (trust us, this is a good thing), and this gorgeous little wine shows it.
Pairing: Possible pairings are abundant and include lentil stews, chorizo, lamb-stuffed peppers, spicy pasta dishes, and anything off the grill. Other ideas include homemade hamburgers, pork ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, marinated eggplant main courses, kefta kebabs, and even takeout tacos or gyros make for beautiful pairings. We’ve been craving something a little more comfort-driven & thus, are sharing the recipe below. It’s vegetarian but comforting, and we’re here for it.
Baked Bean and Cheese Quesadillas (Martha Rose Shulman, NYT)
About. Viña Zorzal has just celebrated its 30th anniversary! It’s located in the heart of Navarra's Ribera Baja region, in the centuries-old village of Corella. Regarding this wine... their Graciano vineyards have unique quality factors: They are in the hills, the border between Ebro Valley and Iberian mountains; the Graciano vines are planted at higher altitudes, with a favorable continental climate, and stony soils. The wine results from a clear commitment to respect their traditions with local grapes such as Graciano and a concern for the environment through organic production techniques. This 2021 Graciano is the product of two generations of the Sanz family's profound knowledge of what their land can produce. (Viticulture & Winemaking: Mikel Sanz & Julio Prieto, Javier Colio & Jorge Navascués.)
Vintage. The 2021 vintage was complex and marked by the last month of the harvest. There were almost perfect conditions until September when torrential rains complicated matters. Sorting, selecting, and discarding grapes was vital, and after all this, the resulting wine turned into one of their top vintages ever.
Winemaking. Hand-harvested, with a light maceration, followed by fermentation in 15,000 L stainless steel vats, then soft pump-overs. Malolactic fermentation occurred in French barrels with tight grains (25% new), with the remainder in stainless steel. After malo, the wine was aged on its lees in medium-toasted French barrels, then gently clarified and lightly filtered before bottling.
