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Item Number: 6220
UPC: 0810411010655
Country: Spain
Region: Catalunya
Appellation/AVA: Terra Alta DO
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vintage: 2008
Grape(s): 90% Garnacha / 10% Syrah
Type: Wine - Dessert
Bottle Size: 500ml Pack: 12
Closure: T Top
Alc by Vol(%): 15
Viticulture: Certified Organic
Case Production: 541 cases are made; 83 for the U.S.
About: Josefina Piñol Red is an estate-bottled wine made by the Piñol family located in the high elevation vineyards of Terra Alta, south of Barcelona. The story of Cellar Vinos Piñol mirrors the ascendance of Spanish wines in world markets over the past ten years, a story of how a reverence for old, treasured vineyards and the best family traditions have been combined with new winemaking methods to produce wines with sterling quality. Similar to Yecla and Vinos de Madrid, Terra Alta is one of Spain’s “up-and-coming” wine regions with an identity of exciting innovation and progressive change. Josefina Red is a late harvest 80-year-old vine Garnacha cuvee that taste like a high-end Port. Josefina is fermented naturally to 13%. Once fermentation is finished, the skins are distilled to make a high quality grappa used to increase the overall alcohol content of the wine to 15%. Juanjo G. Piñol and Toni Coca are the winemakers. Juanjo’s mother Josefina remains in charge of the family cellar.
Vinification: Josefina is allowed to ferment naturally to 13%. Once fermentation is finished, the skins are distilled to make a high quality grappa used to increase the wine’s overall alcohol content to 15%. The wine is aged for five months in French, American and Hungarian oak barrels.
Location: The vineyards are located a few miles south and west of Priorat, within the Terra Alta DO (Zone 5) in Catalunya’s Tarragona province in northeastern Spain. The winemaking tradition, in this remote region, dates back to the 13th century. The winery and vineyards, planted in 1957, are in Batea at 400 meters (1,312 ft.) elevation. The soils are composed of 95% limestone and 5% clay. Regarding the area’s climate, the average temperature from April-October is 67.3ºF. Terra Alta has hot days and warm to moderate nights. Terra Alta is drier and warmer than Montsant and Priorat, producing purple-red wines with greater weight and ripeness than those from other areas within Zone 5. The yearly rainfall (16.3 inches) is lower than the other neighboring DOs.
Tasting Notes: Josefina Pinol Red Dulce reveals aromas of earth, mineral, and black cherry with flavors of assorted black fruits and prunes. On the palate it is intense, medium sweet, and lengthy. Drink this late harvest wine over the next 2-3 years. The wine will pair well with dark chocolate desserts, dark berry and plum tarts and aged hard cheeses.
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