Grapes of Spain

Legado del Moncayo Garnacha

"a classic expression of this grape...really insanely good wine" —

John Gilman, View from the Cellar

Winery

ISAAC FERNANDEZ SELECCION

Appellation

Campo de Borja D.O.

Grape(s)

100% Garnacha Tinta, from 25 year-old-vines

Altitude/Soil

560-600 meters / gravelly, chalky loam

Farming Methods

Traditional methods

Harvest

Hand harvested fruit

Production

Grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed prior to fermentation in stainless steel tanks

Aging

Aged for a few months in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling, no oak.

Suggested Retail Price

$13

Wine Name

Scores

Downloads

Reviews

Legado del Moncayo Garnacha 2017

90 (VfC) 88 (WRO)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
90	View from the Cellar	The 2017 Garnacha Tinto from Legado del Moncayo is nicely ripe, coming in at fourteen percent octane and delivering a classic varietal nose of black raspberries, roasted venison, pepper, garrigue, a touch of celery seed and a complex base of stony soil tones. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, complex and impressively soil-driven, with a rock solid core, ripe tannins and a long, tangy and very well-balanced finish. This is an insanely good value at $11 per bottle here in the states and reminds me of when Châteauneuf du Pape was the bargain in French wines back in the early 1980s! It is approachable today, but will also age very nicely and will be even better with a few years in the cellar to let the tannins soften up a bit more. A great value! 2019- 2035. Issue #78 - November/December 2018
88	Wine Review Online	Simple, but simply delicious, this is a very pure rendering of Garnacha that doesn’t come off as grapey or obvious, which is exactly the danger for this grape in this style. Subtle savory undertones lend complexity and interest, and there’s enough acidity to keep it fresh, and enough tannin to offer framing. Basically a perfect, risk-free wine for Thanksgiving, this delivers roughly the juicy, open fruit flavors associated with good, standard Beaujolais, except that the flavors are both deeper and more lasting. Michael Franz - "Go with Garnacha for Thanksgiving" Nov. 19, 2018

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Legado del Moncayo Garnacha 2018

90 (VM) 89+ (VfC) 89 (I-WR) 88 BB (WE)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
90	Vinous Media	Lurid ruby. Ripe dark berries, candied flowers and succulent herbs on the perfumed nose. Smooth and fleshy in style, offering juicy black raspberry, boysenberry and licorice flavors that pick up a spicy element on the back half. Plush but energetic as well, finishing with very good cling and just a trace of velvety tannins. There's a lot of wine here for the money. All stainless steel. 2021 – 2024 Josh Raynolds - February 2021
89+	View from the Cellar	The 2018 Garnacha Tinto from Legado del Moncayo is another superb bottle for its price tag, but like the 2017 version, this will be most rewarding if tucked away in the cellar for at least a couple of years. The bouquet is deep and nascently complex, offering up notes of black raspberries, garrigue, smoked game, a hint of pepper and a fine base of soil stones. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and chewy, with a fine core, very good soil signature, ripe tannins and a long, well-balanced and promising finish. Like the 2017 version, this comes in measured at fourteen percent octane and is going to be a lovely bottle with a bit of bottle age. 2023-2035+. Issue # 85 - January/February 2020
89	International Wine Review	This 100% Garnacha is fermented and aged in stainless steel. Unoaked, it is soft, rich and fruity and easy to drink. Sourced from a high altitude vineyard of clay and limestone. "Spanish Wines of Value and Quality" - June 20, 2019
88 BB	Wine Enthusiast	Dusty earth notes are attached to reedy red fruit aromas. Raspberry and jammy berry flavors are varietally true but short on depth. This plays up snappy brightness and a cheery red fruit character. *Best Buy* August 2020

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Legado del Moncayo Garnacha 2019

90 (VfC) 89 (WRO) 2.5 Stars (WP)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
90	View from the Cellar	The vineyards for this bottling sit at the foot of an extinct volcano, with the average age of the vines now twenty-five years of age. The soils are a combination of volcanic gravel and chalky loam, with the 2019 version coming in at 14.5 percent octane (though it seems lower than this on the palate). The wine is fermented and raised in stainless steel and see no oak. It offers up a superb nose of red and black raspberries, garrigue, bonfire, smoked meats, lovely spice tones and a fine base of soil. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, spicy and complex, with a fine core, excellent soil signature and grip, ripe, moderate tannins and a long, very nicely balanced finish. This has consistently been one of the best values to be found from Spain (one of the great value-oriented wine-producing countries on the planet!) and the 2019 is absolutely superb. 2021-2035. John Gilman - Issue #91 / February 2021
89	Wine Review Online	Joyously juicy and packed with fresh fruit aromas and flavors, this is simple but also simply delicious. Tart pie cherry fruit notes predominate, with ripe fruit sweetness (not residual sugar) balancing out the palate impression, and unobtrusive tannins lending structure but no bitterness or astringency. This will get a bit more complex over the next couple of years, but there’s no reason not to dive in now with lighter foods. Michael Franz - Issue: December 1, 2020
2.5 Stars	The Washington Post	2.5 Stars (Excellent/Extraordinary) Campo de Borja is known for inexpensive, delicious garnacha, a prototype juicy, fun red wine, and this gorgeous, gulpable example shows why. Unencumbered by oak, it simply tastes of fruit — think cherry, blackberry, boysenberry and plum. There must also be smiles inside, because it’s difficult to taste it without breaking into a wide one. The winery also produces a fine garnacha called Montaña from older vines that is aged in oak for several months. Alcohol by volume: 14.5 percent. Keep this Spanish red wine on your counter for easy refills — at the equivalent of under $8 a bottle. GREAT VALUE Dave McIntyre - April 30, 2021

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Legado del Moncayo Garnacha 2020

90+ (VfC) 90 (VM) 90 (VfC)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
90+	View from the Cellar	The 2020 Garnacha from Legado del Moncayo is another fine vintage for this consistent producer in the mountain’s foothills of Moncayo. The wine offers up a ripe and vibrant nose of red and black cherries, grilled game, garrigue, limestone minerality, a touch of Châteauneuf-like fruit cake and a topnote of bonfire. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and nicely sappy at the core, with good soil undertow, modest tannins and a long, complex and very nicely balanced finish. Fine juice that is very tasty out of the blocks, but will also age quite well. 2021-2035. John Gilman – Issue #92 March/April 2021
90	Vinous Media	Limpid violet. Primary red and blue fruit aromas are complemented by building floral and spice accents. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering gently sweet boysenberry and cherry flavors and a hint of bitter chocolate. Closes long and spicy, with repeating blue fruit character and gently gripping tannins. All stainless steel. 2022-2027 Josh Raynolds – July 6, 2021 Central Spain Additions
90	View from the Cellar	I really liked the 2019 version of this wine and the 2020 is a fine follow-up. As readers may recall, this wine hails from vineyards that sit at the foot of an extinct volcano, with the average age of the vines twenty-five years of age. The soils are a combination of volcanic gravel and chalky loam. The 2020 bottling comes in at an even fourteen percent and delivers a fine bouquet of black raspberries, fruitcake, smoked meats, a good base of stony soil. pepper, garrigue and a topnote of bonfire. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and moderately tannic, with an excellent core of fruit, tangy acids (from the volcanic soils), fine focus and a long, complex and nicely balanced finish. The 2020 Legado del Moncayo is approachable today if you do not mind a bit of youthful tanning but will be even better five years down the road. Yet again, this is a terrific value! 2022-2040. John Gilman – Issue #98 March/April 2022

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Legado del Moncayo Garnacha 2021

91 (OB) 89 (VfC) 87 (WS)

Score	Publication	Review	Copy
91	OwenBargreen.com	Delicious even so young, the 2021 Legado del Moncayo Garnacha was sourced from 25-year-old Grenache vines which is set on gravelly loam soils. Kirsch, kumquat rind and bubblegum flavor combine with a smooth texture on the palate. Enjoy now and over the next several years. Drink 2022-2027. Owen Bargreen - July 20, 2022
89	View from the Cellar	The 2021 Garnacha from Legado Del Moncayo is a tank-fermented and raised wine, with the 2021 version coming in at 14.5 percent alcohol. It delivers a bright and nicely ripe bouquet of red and black raspberries, smoked meats, garrigue, stony soil tones, pepper and a topnote of bonfire. On the palate the wine is vibrant, full-bodied, ripe and well-balanced, with plenty of depth at the core, good soil signature, ripe, moderately chewy tannins and fine length and grip on the complex finish. This carries its octane nicely and is a very good bottle of Garnacha and an extremely fair price. Good juice. 2027-2045. John Gilman - Issue #103 January/February 2023.
87	Wine Spectator	A bright, light- to medium-bodied red, offering flavors of ripe, tangy cherry and cranberry fruit, Mediterranean macchia and milled white pepper and anise, followed by a chewy finish. Drink now. 10,000 cases made, 4,500 cases imported Best Values. Alison Napjus - April 2024

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Legado del Moncayo Garnacha 2023

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