100 shades of Garnacha Tintorera - the one with Dark Red Pulp. Wine Tasting

Third tasing in the series “Unknown Spain” DO Almansa (Albacete, La Mancha) Bodegas Cano

After travelling to Almansa last April and meeting different producers, I’ve decided to put together a tasting about this lesser known corner of Eastern Spain where Garnacha Tintorera considered the most important grape and reaches its best expression at high altitude areas with continental climate.

The wines from Garnacha Tintorera are very dark in colour, dense, with an intense aroma of red fruit and often quite high alcohol content but there are also modern trends today that trying to lower the extraction and create a lighter and more elegant wines.

Also known as Alicante Bouschet, Garnacha Tintorera originated in France with the crossbreeding of Petit Bouschet and Garnacha by Henri Bouschet in 1855. From there it spread to various areas such as Alentejo in Portugal, California in the USA and several regions in Spain.

DO Almansa is relatively small compare to other Spainis DOP’s with 11 producers among which 2 are really dominating the market. Cooperative Tintor Alba and privately owned Bodegas Cano.

On the night we’ll taste 2 modern and 1 traditional expression of Garnacha Tintorera as well as a surprise white wine that wont leave anyone indifferent. All wines are produced from BIO grown grapes at Bodegas Cana.

1860 Sauvignon Blanc aged in amphora. Grapes from 15+ years old plots at 1,000 meters of altitude.

Los Prados - Estate Wine

From sandy-loam soils, elaborated with minimal intervention. Fermented in French oak barrels partly with whole bunches and its own ambient yeasts. 1000m altitude.

La Herrada - Estate Wine

From chalky soils, slow ripening of the grapes, resulted in a more concentrated, full-bodied, elegant and fine wine with mineral notes. 1050m altitude.

1860 Garnacha Tintorera.
This wine is the result of a selection of the best Garnacha Tintorera grapes of Bodegas Cano, from vineyards over 40 years old located in limestone plots at an altitude of 1,000 metres. Traditional red with extended oak and bottle ageing.

Hgh altitude village of Higueruela in Albacete. 1000m above the sea level and home for one of the largest wind farms In the world.

A sneaky preview of one the the wines from Almansa. Traditional Garnacha Tintoreta - one of a few varieties along with Georgian Saperavy that have dark red pulp, hense the name - Inking or Dyer

Early spring in Almansa when buds just starting to wake up and sap started to move

Tasting Bodegas Cano portfolio last April

Some wines are fermented and matured in clay amphora. A millenia old technique which became popular again in recent years.

Bush planting is a traditional for this area where water is always scarce

Dark red pulp of Garnacha Tintorera makes it rather unique vs other black grape varieties