Viña Zorzal is well-known for their dedication to Graciano – it’s the variety that helped put them on the global wine radar, and this wine shows exactly why that attention is so well-deserved. Typically a blending grape in both Navarra and neighboring Rioja, the grape contributes both color and acidity, as well as more delicate floral and even lightly spicy aromas. On its own, especially from old vines in warm areas, it thrives. This wine is more black than red-fruited, with juicy blackberry and black plum notes, as well as faint candied violet and iris in the background. The balance between fruit and structure here is impeccable, with racy acidity that ties everything together and silky, fine-grained tannins from the nine months this wine spent in larger French oak casks. Firmly medium-bodied, slightly more intense floral flavors emerge on the palate, along with earthy forest floor and licorice notes. This is very simply, another stunning deal for the price.

A really elegant and high toned nose with really bright red fruits. There's cranberry skin, ripe raspberry, red licorice, and a little bit of spice on the finish to round it out. The palate is a little crunchy at the outset but then it deepens with some darker fruit, including a little touch of purple here and there. It begins with cranberry and pomegranate, before it gets this touch of purple fruit and then some underripe cherry. This is a really easy and pleasant little bottle of wine that overdelivers for the price.

It is very rare to find a 100% Graciano bottling! This little rare bird is a fine example of the varietal. The first scents that were in the glass were a surprisingly clean chalk with bright red fruits, some fresh (dried) herbs and (most unusually!) honeycomb. On the palate, it retains its crispness but, leans into boysenberry and blackberry fruit. The honeyed aspect comes through at the upper palate, and the acidity hits you at the back of the throat. All in all, this wine is a little charmer that should have a wide appeal for those who like a bit of crunch in addition to generous (and very pretty!) red and black fruits. Super versatile!