04 Bodegas y Vinedos del Falon, D.O. Calatayud Vina Alarba Old Vines Grenache

With grenache growing in popularity among critics and terms like "old vines" becoming more mainstream, it's nice to see that quality has yet to suffer. The fresh Vina Alarba sets itself apart from the tacky, often grapey, and oddly tannic grenache that's flooding the craft market. While such grenache--from Spain and the Rhone in particular--is delicious, it's also too predictable. This interpretation is much brighter with sweet cherry and watermelon flavors, rough wet-suede-like tannins, and an exotic smoky aroma.