Triunfo Cariñena 2018

Cariñena – also known as Carignan – is a grape and also a region, upstream from Rioja, which produces “fruity, modern, well made wines that offer fantastic value for money” (Jamie Goode, Harpers). Here the sun beats down so relentlessly on the rugged, mountainous landscape that the best vineyards, like Triunfo, are planted at cooler altitudes of 800 metres or more. Age too plays an important role in quality. Precious, gnarled, old vines – up to 60 years in age – yield only miserly quantities of grapes, but of tremendous concentration. Winemaker Javier Domeque squeezes every last drop from them to craft a wine of intense, spiced, bramble fruit and supple tannins. A tasty red to serve with country pâtés, casseroles or sausages and mash.