November 20th-Grao Negro and Garnacha Tintorera

Grao Negro and Garnacha Tintorera are grapes developed in southern France in the mid 19th century by crossing lesser known varieties. Grao Negro also is known by the name Grand Noir. Garnacha Tintorera is more commonly known as Alicante Henri Bouschet. Garnacha Tintorera is a teinturier grape variety, just like Alicante Bouschet. This means that the pulp of the grape is also red in color. Most red grapes have colorless pulp that becomes colored when the juice is kept in contact with the skins during maceration and/or fermentation. Grao Negro also has a colored pulp but it is lighter in color. Very little Grao Negro remains in France. Most plantings can now be found in Spain and some in Portugal. Garnacha Tintorera plantings can be found throughout the Iberian Peninsula. 

This week, I drank a 2021 Envinate Rosende Lousas from Ribeira Sacra and Galicia. This wine is 85% Mencia and 15% a blend of Garnacha Tintorera, Brancello, Merenzao, and Grao Negro. It was a pale ruby color, much lighter than the two previous wines. It has aromas of wild strawberries, red cherries, raspberries, cranberries, black pepper, and leather. On the palate, this light bodied dry wine has a significant level of acidity. It has a moderate level of alcohol and smooth tannins. The acidity brightens the red fruit notes. They linger on the palate despite the increased saliva production from the acidity. This acid also makes it a great food wine. It could be paired with a variety of meats, from lighter to fattier cuts. It would also be wonderful with hearty stews or dishes with tomato sauce.