It’s official — Envinate has “gone cult!” And the Envinate Albahra is the cheapest way to get one of their delicious wines in your glass.
The last two vintages of this wine have scored 96 and 97 points respectively, and I predict the 2018 Albahra will register similar marks. We secured the entire allocation of this wine for the state, and I’m offering it up at one of the best prices in the country.
2018 Envinate Albahra
95 points Team Table Wine, 94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
To order, stop by or click here to access in our online store.
Envinate is one of Spain’s hottest young wineries. Founded in 2005 by four friends who studied enology together in Alicante, their collective aim is to make profoundly pure and authentic wines that express the unique characteristics of each vineyard they work with. To achieve this, organic and biodynamic farming is practiced, all grapes are hand picked, the grapes are foot-trodden, the wines are fermented with native yeasts, and the wines are finished with minute levels of sulfites.
The resulting wines, and this one in particular, are stunning expressions of place, grape, and minimal intervention winemaking. The Albahra is a blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Moravia Agria from high altitude, organically tended vineyards sin Almansa, in Southeastern Spain. Garnacha Tintorera, aka Alicante Bouschet, contributes the rich and concentrated notes of fresh berries and Mediterranean herbs. And the Moravia Agria, a super rare and indigenous Spanish grape adds freshness, acidity, and gorgeous floral notes.
Drinking like a hypothetical blend of Morgon meets Mercurey meets Saint Joseph, this is a wine that will make a lot of people happy. What I love about this wine is the combination of intensity and finesse. The color is dark and the flavors assertive, but there’s refreshing acidity present as well. For fans of Cru Beaujolais, more rustic Red Burgundies, or more elegant Northern Rhone Syrahs, you’ve got to try this.
With fall and cooler weather arriving this weekend, this is the wine you want to be drinking. Extremely versatile at the table, it shines with roasted meats, slow braised stews, and earthy root vegetables. But it’s mighty tasty with nothing more than a glass and a good friend.
It gives me great pleasure to offer up wines like this one to the wine lovers of Asheville and beyond. Based on last year’s success with this wine, I predict this will fly out of the store fast. And with only 500 or so cases produced, we won’t be able to get any more.
To order, stop by or click here to access in our online store.
Josh Spurling
Owner, Operator, Wine Monger
Table Wine Asheville