J. Garica Carrion Pata Negra Rioja Reserva 2010
Bright medium ruby. Medium rim. Medium finish
Classic Rioja nose(scent of dry flowers, red and dark cherries; savoury palate from the 90% Tempranillo). Just give this wine 20 minutes, this sleeper will turn from a wine with slight sharpness and taut acidity (from the dash of 10% Graciano) to a fruity, elegant, smooth palate with right balsamic balance and structure.
Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW talked about the wine as an ‘original interpretation(sic, of Rioja Reserva’ a la intriguing and complex style).
Sarah Jane Evans MW, one of our teachers, writes about the ‘clean brambly aromas lead onto a palate full of flavour but refreshed by the black fruit and acidity of the Graciano…. and the light, lemony acidity matches the(sic, long)dense fruit’ .
ABV is 14%, but you won’t feel that. With a total 36 months barrel + bottle ageing before release, this is now the perfect time to drink this wine.
A Decanter 95:
Decanter 95 "Garcia Carrion has been keeping Spain and export markets supplied with drinks for more than a century. The company started in wine and is a brand leader in Spain, but it is also a significant producer of fruit juice. The Pata Negra brand covers five DOs and this Rioja Reserva in the line-up has been winning medals internationally over the past year. Brilliant value; we were particularly attracted by the Graciano in the blend (10%), which gave a character of black fruit and an elegant tinge of minerality. A wine from a successful producer who clearly understands what consumers want."
