Ver Sacrum Garnacha 2018
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Robert
Parker -
James
Suckling
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
The nose is vibrant showing red cherry, raspberry, sage, thyme, and black pepper that leads into a light mid palate with hints of cinnamon, brown sugar, and a sprinkle of lemon balm. A light wine with a bright finish and lingering red fruit.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The super-pale red 2018 Garnacha was produced with grapes from a vineyard panted in Los Chacayes at 1,100 meters above sea level on very rocky soils at 10,000 plants per hectare. It fermented with 25% full clusters in a semi-carbonic maceration fashion for four days with indigenous yeasts in 3,000-liter concrete eggs. The wine is pale and delicate, a little in the style of the Comando G wines from Gredos in Spain, matured with equal parts in used 225-liter oak barrel and concrete for six months. It has a perfumed nose of flowers and wild berries with some notes of Mediterranean herbs. It has moderate alcohol and mellow acidity and comes through as harmonious and velvety, with pungent flavors on the finish.
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James Suckling
An innovative if eccentric, pale red that has plenty of candied orange peel and dried strawberry character. Medium body and a silky palate in which the tannins are all below the waterline.
Other Vintages
2019-
Robert
Parker
Eduardo Soler and two friends started Ver Sacrum in 2012 with the concept of growing and vinifying Rhone varietals. Their winemaking ethos focuses on fresh, low alcohol, lighter skin contact, native yeast, honest, and easy drinking wines. All grapes are hand harvested and most are foot crushed with minimal intervention in the vineyards and winery and no corrections, filtration, or pump overs.
They currently make wine from their small vineyard in Los Chacayes, Uco Valley where they have planted Grenache, Monastrell, Carignan, Roussane, Marsanne, Mencia, Syrah, Teroldego, and Nebbiolo. Eduardo came into winemaking after returning to Mendoza and reuniting with some of the most adventurous growers of Argentina. He is also an avid mountaineer who has climbed multiple famous peaks and worked ski patrol in Aspen and Mendoza for many years. He currently owns and operates a small ski resort 2 hours outside of Mendoza.
“When the old sent their young to found new villages, bringing grape vines to start new vineyards, they gave off by a ceremony called the sacred spring or Ver Sacrum. Since then, the Ver Sacrum is a symbol of the new tribe, new art, new vine. We renew this ancient vow, with the audacity create something new. This is our Ver Sacrum”- Eduardo Soler
Grenache thrives in any warm, Mediterranean climate where ample sunlight allows its clusters to achieve full phenolic ripeness. While Grenache's birthplace is Spain (there called Garnacha), today it is more recognized as the key player in the red blends of the Southern Rhône, namely Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Côtes du Rhône and its villages. Somm Secret—The Italian island of Sardinia produces bold, rustic, single varietal Grenache (there called Cannonau). California, Washington and Australia have achieved found success with Grenache, both flying solo and in blends.
With a winning combination of cool weather, high elevation and well-draining alluvial soils, it is no surprise that Mendoza’s Uco Valley is one of the most exciting up-and-coming wine regions in Argentina. Healthy, easy-to-manage vines produce low yields of high-quality fruit, which in turn create flavorful, full-bodied wines with generous acidity.
This is the source of some of the best Malbec in Mendoza, which can range from value-priced to ultra-premium. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay also perform well here.