2005 Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja
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Tasting notes
This was a great opportunity to look at one of the flagship wines of importer Jorge Ordonez’s portfolio. Alto Moncayo is a 100% old vine Grenache cuvee (900-1,000 cases produced depending on the vintage) that is a joint project between Jorge Ordonez and Barossa winemaker, Chris Ringland. Five generations of vignerons have farmed over 210 acres of primarily old vine Grenache at Alto Moncayo, a wine that is produced from incredibly low yields of 500 grams of grape bunches per vine. There are never more than six to eight bunches on these ancient head-pruned Grenache vines. The wine is fermented in open-top wood fermenters, and spends 19 months in 100% new oak prior to being bottled unfiltered. The fruit is all destemmed. I tasted these ten vintages of Alto Moncayo in September, and I was blown away by how well they were showing. Importer: Jorge Ordonez Selections,Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767: email:corporate@jorgeordonez.com
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Garnacha. Intense toasty oak aromas at first that seem to dampen down the 16% alcohol on the nose. I groaned when I saw the alcohol but this is remarkably fluid and full of fresh juicy fruit on the palate. Only on the warming finish does the alcohol show, but it does take the edge off it, making elegance out of the question, and puts me off drinking it for pleasure. (JH)
100% Garnacha. Oak-derived coconut and vanilla aromas but nice firm black fruit underneath. Rich, warm and well made but not especially exciting. (JH)
(100% garnacha) Opaque ruby. Ripe raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by fresh rose, vanilla and mocha. Deeply concentrated and slow to open, offering deep, liqueur-like red and dark fruit character. Supple tannins add structure to this exotic, youthful fruit bomb, which finishes bright and clingy. Needs a couple years of bottle aging.