Reigning from the Moncayo Massif on high

El emperador de Garnacha
En el Imperio de la Garnacha

If Campo de Borja is el Imperio de la Garnacha, or the Empire of Garnacha, Tres Picos is no doubt reigning as its emperor. Case in point: the Borsao 2013 Tres Picos Garnacha from Campo de Borja in Spain’s Aragon north of Calatayud.

This is a fulsome Garnacha that consistently earns 90+ from the great publications such as Tanzer at International Wine Cellar, Parker at The Wine Advocate, and the rising talents at Vinous Media.

The 2014 marks the third consecutive year that Tres Picos has earned the “Greatest Value Wine of the Year” awarded by Robert Parker annually.

For all its charms and bold Iberian expression, Tres Picos is the bestselling and most sought after Garnacha nationwide –and it typically retails under $18 which has proven a healthy sweet spot for all of us.

Old vines ranging from 35 to 60 years old deserve much of the credit. Between the vines’ great age, that they cling to Moncayo Massif mountain soils of clay and limestone, and that they spend their head pruned lives growing strong despite the drying northwest “Cierzo” wind it is no wonder the yields each year remain extremely low –always less than 2 tons per acre.

After nearly a month soaking on their skins during fermentation, this Garnacha then spends 5 to 10 months in French oak casks depending on barrel age. This yields an opaque red of textural depth but keeps smooth and approachable thanks to polished tannins and a gentle acidity. In a word: remarkable.

Here’s to raising a glass of Tres Picos
To its recent and ongoing high acclaim!

¡Felicidades!

To peruse local Minnesota retailers and restaurateurs who have such fine taste for such a fine wine, explore these who have purchased this wine in the last twelve months, listed alphabetically by city:

Coborn's - Albertville
Albertville
(763) 497-2831

Downtown Liquor
Alexandria
(612) 763-5404

Top Ten Liquors - Andover
Andover
(763) 755-7775

G-will #1 - Andover
Andover
(763) 421-1117

Beehive Liquors
Bemidji
(218) 333-3767

Top Ten Liquors - Blaine
Blaine
(763) 754-3231

Haskell's - Bloomington
Bloomington
(952) 893-5440

Total Wine & More - Bloom
Bloomington
(952) 835-6063

G-will #2 - Brooklyn Park
Brooklyn Park
(763) 535-2500

Hy-vee - Brooklyn Park
Brooklyn Park
(763) 488-4500

Buffalo Wine & Spirits #1
Buffalo
(763) 682-2234

Downtown Wine And Spirits
Buffalo
(763) 682-1138

Total Wine & More - Burnsville
Burnsville
(952) 835-6063

Somerby Golf Club
Byron
(507) 775-3700

Haskell's - Chanhassen
Chanhassen
(952) 345-1115

Total Wine & More - Chanhassen
Chanhassen


Cash Wise Liquor - Duluth
Duluth
(218) 722-4507

Cellars - Eagan
Eagan
(651) 405-6681

Eden Prairie #2
Eden Prairie
(952) 914-0032

Edina # 3 - Vernon
Edina
(952) 903-5740

Edina # 1 - 50th
Edina
(612) 903-5720

Edina # 2 - York
Edina
(952) 903-5730

Haskell's - Excelsior
Excelsior
(952) 474-0935

Haskell's - Faribault
Faribault
(507) 332-7173

Golden Valley Liquor Barr
Golden Valley
(763) 544-9881

Gun Flint Tavern
Grand Marais
(218) 387-1563

On The Rocks Wine & Spirits
Hugo
(651) 787-9480

Lakeside Wine & Spirits
Long Lake
(952) 475-2936

Wine Cafe
Mankato
(507) 345-1516

Whole Foods - Maple Grove
Maple Grove
(651) 438-2400

Total Wine & More -maple Grove
Maple Grove
(763) 488-3300

Haskell's - Maple Grove
Maple Grove
(763) 400-7888

Hennepin-lake Liquors
Minneapolis
(612) 825-4411

East Lake Liquors
Minneapolis
(612) 724-5467

Lowry Hill Liquors
Minneapolis
(612) 871-2500

Elevated Beer Wine & Spirits
Minneapolis
(612) 384-2980

Whole Foods - Mpls
Minneapolis
(612) 313-7100

1010 Washington Wine & Spirits
Minneapolis
(612) 339-4040

Surdyk's
Minneapolis
(612) 379-3232

France 44
Minneapolis
(612) 925-3252

Zipp's
Minneapolis
(612) 333-8686

Cafe Ena
Minneapolis
(612) 824-4441

Haskell's - Minneapolis
Minneapolis
(612) 333-2434

The Wine Shop
Minnetonka
(952) 988-9463

Haskell's - Minnetonka
Minnetonka
(952) 544-4456

Bridgeview Liquors
Moorhead
(218) 477-6162

Hy-vee - New Hope
New Hope
(763) 531-7460

Cub Wine & Spirits - Oakdale
Oakdale


Hy-vee - Oakdale
Oakdale
(651) 417-3160

Premier Wine & Spirits
Osseo
(763) 425-4680

Pour Bottle Shop
Otsego
(763) 222-5151

Vinifera Wines & Ales
Plymouth
(763) 473-0008

Lunds & Byerly's - Plymouth
Plymouth
(763) 268-1624

Haskell's - Plymouth
Plymouth
(763) 553-9198

Cellars - Plymouth
Plymouth
(763) 559-2114

Hy-vee - Rochester
Rochester
(507) 285-0848

Andy's - Crossroads
Rochester
(507) 289-0777

Andy's - Marketplace
Rochester
(507) 535-7500

Fairview Wines & Spirits
Roseville
(651) 636-7229

Tower Glen Liquor
Roseville
(651) 639-0122

Total Wine & More - Roseville
Roseville
(301) 795-1000

Cellars - Roseville
Roseville
(651) 636-4404

St Anthony Village # 1
St Anthony
(612) 782-3451

Konrad's
St Cloud
(320) 774-1073

Liquor Boy
St Louis Park
(952) 512-2200

Knollwood Liquors
St Louis Park
(952) 938-2783

Byerly's - St Louis Park
St Louis Park
(952) 929-2100

Rite Liquor Store
St Paul
(651) 414-0346

Cub Liquor - Stp
St Paul
(952) 922-8335

Salut - St Paul
St Paul
(651) 917-2345

Thomas Liquor
St Paul
(651) 699-1860

Surdyk's Flights - Terminal 1
St Paul
(612) 727-2323

Sharrett's
St Paul
(651) 645-8629

The Wine Thief
St Paul
(651) 698-9463

Yarmo Liquor
St Paul
(651) 698-0707

First Grand Liquors
St Paul
(651) 227-7039

Khyber Pass Cafe
St Paul
(651) 690-0505

Scott's Liquor
St Paul
(651) 690-4434

Haskell's - St Paul
St Paul
(651) 698-8844

Cub Wine & Spirits - Stillwate
Stillwater
(651) 430-2350

Liberty Village Wines & Spirit
Stillwater
(651) 439-3022

Haskell's - Stillwater
Stillwater
(651) 439-3399

Mgm - Vadnais Heights
Vadnais Heights
(651) 653-3456

West Side Liquor - Waite Park
Waite Park
(320) 253-9511

Tonka Bottle Shop
Wayzata
(952) 473-5469

Wayzata Wines & Spirits
Wayzata
(952) 473-7191

Cub Wine & Spirits - Wbl
White Bear Lake


Cellars - Woodbury
Woodbury
(651) 738-8110

Haskell's - Woodbury
Woodbury
(651) 714-4188

Total Wine & More - Woodbury
Woodbury
(301) 795-1000