Parcelas de Familia 21
| Article number: | 009912 |
| Availability: | In stock |
| Delivery time: | Same day Pickup |
Valencia, Spain's third-largest city and the capital city of the Provincia of Valencia, tops bucket lists of savvy travelers worldwide. It packs virtually everything you want from a holiday travel destination into one place. A stunning combination of breathtakingly beautiful beaches, amazing Rococo architecture, and an old town filled with history, art, and cathedrals offers travelers a multitude of ways to enjoy the three hundred-plus days of yearly sunshine.
As the gentle slope rises west of Valencia city, it eventually leads to the sunny mountains of Southern Spain. At the mountain slopes, the benevolent climate of the Med provides a minimal albeit welcome influence on the dry, dusty inland climate. Vineyards on these slopes are planted on nutrient-poor calcareous sandy soil, and vines have to work strenuously to endure the harsh environment and complete lack of irrigation.
Valencia doesn't usually make anyone's shortlist of top wine-producing regions. When you mention Valencia, most folks immediately think of the excellent namesake oranges grown there. Others may recognize the area as the birthplace of Paella -- arguably, Spain's most famous dish. Famous for wine, until now, not so much. Over the years, I have tasted many wines from the Valencia D.O. and the surrounding region, and I consider it one of the most exciting and emerging regions in Spain.
It's a harsh region for viticulture and winemaking. The sun-baked land here is parched into brown dust, and irrigation is next to impossible in most areas. As with neighboring regions Jumilla and Alicante, the saving grace is the Mediterranean. The benevolent maritime influence of the Med steps in and is a crucial element in contributing to the quality and ripening of both grapes and oranges.
Parcelas de Familia is a joint venture between vigneron Vicente Cambra and my broker-exporter friend Eva Lopez. Together, they have cracked the code of this hot and punishing climate, and their efforts shine in this unique blend.
Vincente Cambra comes from a long line of winemakers in Valencia, going back to the early 1900s. The family holdings are located midway between Murcia in the south and the city of Valencia in the north. The vineyards span 30 hectares of rolling hills, between 1800 and 2000 feet in altitude, all parked on mineral-rich limestone soils. Since it's further to the west, it sits in more of a transitional zone between the coastal climate of the Med and the high desert climate inland.
As I've found with most of my travels in Spain, the Cambra family winery is a somewhat modest structure. You won't find glitzy multi-million-dollar winery showrooms in this village -- just farmers making wine. What may be lacking in glitz and glimmer is deftly made up in the quality and integrity department.
One of the first things to notice about this wine is the unusual blend of 0% Syrah, Garnacha, Cabernet Franc, and Marselan. The maritime influence provides appropriate growing conditions, allowing Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Marselan to flourish next to the more locally suitable Garnacha and Monastrell.
Thanks to the nifty blend, this vibrant Spanish red will remind you just a little of your favorite red from the south of France; however, the lush and silky fruit speaks fluent Spanish! The dark garnet color leads to notes of crushed berries, super-ripe blue fruits, and hints of smoke and red licorice. The smooth palate has plenty of zip, and the dark red and blue fruit notes linger nicely on the palate, finishing with hints of violet, spice, and a touch of smoke and tobacco leaf. One year of barrel aging gives this wine enough heft to stand up to a steak; however, it's nimble enough to enjoy just on its own.
Pair this with red meats from the grill, cool weather stews and ragouts, and, of course, lamb chops. This wine is drinking beautifully now; however, enjoy it as well over the next couple of years as this wine continues to develop nicely in the bottle.