Corona de Aragón Old Vine Garnacha 2014 Cariñena, Spain 75cl

Corona de Aragón comes from Cariñena, one of Spain’s oldest wine regions, set on the stony, wind-swept plateau of Aragón in the north-east. This is Garnacha country, and the region’s gnarled old bush vines are its greatest asset, digging deep into poor soils for water and flavour.

This wine is made entirely from Garnacha grown on old vines. Mature vines like these crop very little fruit, but what they give is deeply flavoured and concentrated, the hallmark of serious old-vine reds. It is a genuine quality signal rather than a marketing flourish, and it shows in the density of the wine.

The 2014 vintage in Aragón produced ripe, well-coloured Garnacha, the warm continental climate driving full flavour while the altitude and cool nights kept the wine in balance.

Expect a deep, saturated red and an intense nose of blackberry and dark plum, lifted by black pepper and warm baking spice. The palate is full and rounded, the old-vine fruit concentrated and generous, with ripe tannins and a long, warming finish. Several years in bottle have softened its edges into something supple.

This is a bold, characterful red for cold-weather cooking. Serve it at room temperature with grilled or roast lamb, rich stews, chorizo, or a wedge of mature Manchego. A short decant will help it open. If you enjoy old-vine Grenache or a full-bodied southern Rhône red, this is a rewarding and well-priced Spanish counterpart. It has enough grip and concentration to stand up to robust, slow-cooked dishes without ever feeling heavy.