2018 Now finished: GARNACHA, Cuevas de Arom. Calatayud, Spain

Calatayud only became a recognised region in 1989. It is in the province of Aragon, about 50 miles south-west of Zaragoza. To the east is the region of Cariñena, and a little further north is Campo de Borja, which itself is just beneath Rioja and Navarra.

UK agent Liberty wines:
“Cuevas de Arom is a new project in Calatayud led by friends Fernando Mora MW and Mario López. The project’s aim is to redefine the style of Garnacha by producing elegant and fresh examples of the variety. In their search for Spain’s finest and forgotten plantings of Garnacha, the project became a joint venture with Bodegas San Alejandro, a unique cooperative which champions the conservation of old vines, and the development of organic and sustainable viticulture. The cooperative still owns some of the oldest and highest vineyards in the region planted on precipitous slopes, offering Cuevas de Arom access to the best Garnacha fruit.”

Fernando Mora is a quietly spoken genius. Here he has captured the perfect combination of richnesss and lightness that sums up Grenache (or Garnacha) at its best.