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 #1601 - Bloomington
Bloomington
952-835-6063

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

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

Downtown Wine And Spirits
Buffalo
763-682-1138

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

Total Wine & More #1603 - Burnsville
Burnsville
952-835-6063

Somerby Golf Club
Byron
507-775-3700

Haskell's - Chanhassen - Closed
Chanhassen
952-345-1115

Total Wine & More #1606 - Chanhassen
Chanhassen
952-934-6484

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/grandview
Edina
952-903-5740

Edina # 2 - York/southdale
Edina
952-903-5730

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

Haskell's - Excelsior
Excelsior
952-474-0935

Haskell's - Faribault
Faribault
507-332-7173

Golden Valley Liquor Barrel
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

Do Not Use, Owner - Wine Cafe
Mankato
507-345-1516

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

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

Total Wine & More #1605 - Maple Grove
Maple Grove
763-488-3300

Hennepin-lake Liquors
Minneapolis
612-825-4411

Nelson, Jeff
Minneapolis


Elevated Beer Wine & Spirits - Mpls
Minneapolis
612-384-2980

East Lake Liquors
Minneapolis
612-724-5467

Lowry Hill Liquors
Minneapolis
612-871-2500

Whole Foods - Mpls
Minneapolis
612-313-7100

Zipp's
Minneapolis
612-333-8686

1010 Washington Wine & Spirits
Minneapolis
612-339-4040

Surdyk's
Minneapolis
612-379-3232

France 44
Minneapolis
612-925-3252

Cafe Ena
Minneapolis
612-824-4441

Haskell's - Minneapolis
Minneapolis
612-333-2434

Goldsmith, Steven
Minneapolis
612-377-8940

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
651-739-3570

Hy-vee - Oakdale
Oakdale
651-417-3160

Premier Wine & Spirits -old Ownership
Osseo
763-425-4680

Pour Bottle Shop
Otsego
763-222-5151

Vinifera Wines & Ales
Plymouth
763-473-0008

Cellars - Plymouth
Plymouth
763-559-2114

Lunds & Byerlys - Plymouth
Plymouth
763-268-1624

Haskell's - Plymouth
Plymouth
763-553-9198

Hy-vee - Rochester
Rochester
507-285-0848

Andy's Liquor Marketplace
Rochester
507-535-7500

Andy's Liquor
Rochester
507-289-0777

Fairview Wines & Spirits- Closed
Roseville
651-636-7229

Total Wine & More #1602 - Roseville
Roseville
301-795-1000

Tower Glen Liquor
Roseville
651-639-0122

Cellars - Roseville
Roseville
651-636-4404

St Anthony Village # 1
Saint Anthony
612-782-3451

Knollwood Liquors
Saint Louis Park
952-938-2783

Liquor Boy
Saint Louis Park
952-512-2200

Lunds & Byerlys - St Louis Park
Saint Louis Park
952-929-2100

Rite Liquor Store
Saint Paul
651-414-0346

Cub Liquor - Stp
Saint Paul
952-922-8335

Salut - St Paul
Saint Paul
651-917-2345

Ann Avant
Saint Paul


Khyber Pass Cafe
Saint Paul
651-690-0505

First Grand Liquors
Saint Paul
651-227-7039

Sharrett's
Saint Paul
651-645-8629

Yarmo Liquor
Saint Paul
651-698-0707

Thomas Liquor
Saint Paul
651-699-1860

Scott's Liquor
Saint Paul
651-690-4434

Haskell's - St Paul
Saint Paul
651-698-8844

Konrad's
St Cloud
320-774-1073

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

The Wine Thief
St Paul
651-698-9463

Cub Wine & Spirits - Stillwater
Stillwater
651-430-2350

Liberty Village Wines & Spirits
Stillwater
651-439-3022

Haskell's - Stillwater
Stillwater
651-439-3399

Do Not Use Owner, 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
651-777-6909

Cellars - Woodbury
Woodbury
651-738-8110

Haskell's - Woodbury
Woodbury
651-714-4188

Total Wine & More #1604 - Woodbury
Woodbury
301-795-1000