Description
“(Castilian for “small sea”) is named for the vineyard area in the Almansa region close to the town of Albacete, located at the southeastern tip of Castilla-La Mancha. A blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Moravia Agria. The Garnacha Tintorera (aka Alicante Bouschet, a red-juiced grape) is from a 3ha parcel vineyard on clay/calcareous soils. The Moravia Agria (a high-acid, low alcohol blending grape) is from a single vineyard on sandy clay-calcareous soils in neighboring Manchuela, which is pruned to get larger grapes, since there is only around 50ha of Moravia Agria left in Spain. All grapes are hand-harvested and vinified separately by parcel. The Garnacha Tintorera is foot-trodden in vat with 30-50% stems included and 6-10 days skin maceration, then fermented and raised on fine lees in concrete for 8 months. The Moravia Agria is completely destemmed and sees 7 days maceration before being pressed and raised on fine lees in 228L used French barriques for 8 months, all without battonage. The wine is then blended and bottled unfined, unfiltered and with very little SO2 addition. This is a wine with a pure high-toned nose, floral red fruit, with hints of spice and bursting with minerality. An extremely versatile food wine, especially with Mediterranean meats and seafood.”- José Pastor
“The 2018 Albahra, an outstanding red from the Almansa and Manchuela regions, is sold without appellation of origin because it mixes grapes from two different regions. It’s 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Moravia Agria from Almansa and Manchuela, respectively, fermented separately, the Garnacha Tintorera with part of full clusters in open concrete vats where it matured for eight months and the Moravia Agria with indigenous yeasts and a short maceration also in concrete but then aged in used 228-liter oak barrels for eight months. It has a fruit-driven nose and a juicy and round palate with bright flavors and a soft texture, very clean and precise. Unmistakably Mediterranean with great freshness. It’s a very complete vintage that clearly transcends its price. 50,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2019.” 94 Jose Gutierrez for the 2018, NOT THE 2019 OFFERED HERE
