Bodegas San Alejandro “Baltasar” Garnacha Viñas Viejas 2004 Tuesday, Apr 8 2008
Tasting Notes and Spain and Variety and Red and grenache et al
I was browsing through a retailer at lunch today and the thought popped into my head that I needed to drink a few inexpensive Spanish wines. Not sure why, it’s not like I need more wine, but I grabbed a few odds and ends anyway. I like a change of pace. I passed by the French, the interesting Cannonau (that’s Grenache) from Sardinia and quite a few other tempting little imports. This is from the DO Catalyud which is in the bigger region of Aragón.
It smells of red fruits, minerals and earth, a little pepper and smoke with a sweeter baked rhubarb character. On the palate distinctly warm and slippery with berries, rhubarb, dried herbs and spicy flavours. Sweet but still quite dry - in part due to the fairly dry sandy tannins. There’s something a bit artificial here that I can’t quite put my finger on and it detracts from my overall enjoyment. Still a nice enough wine - but no better than a local Grenache at the same price point.
Rated : 87 Points
Tasted : Apr08
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $25
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2008 - 2011
Source : Camperdown Cellars
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4 Responses to “Bodegas San Alejandro “Baltasar” Garnacha Viñas Viejas 2004”
April 9th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Of course you need to drink a few Spanish wines….
Not sure on the artificial comment, perhaps a bit of the old ‘white bag’ treatment? I didn’t notice anything from memory, but I tasted it almost a year ago.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:14 am
It does not taste entirely “vinous” is the best way I can put it or maybe the equivalent is the difference in taste between a diet drink and full strength one. The diet one just tastes a bit “wrong”.
GW
April 9th, 2008 at 8:50 am
I drank several of the 2003 vintage. I recall it being a _much_ better wine on the 2nd and 3rd days than after opening…
April 9th, 2008 at 8:54 am
Oh. Opps. I sinked it. Recycling night tonight..
GW