Viña Zorzal Graciano, Navarra, Spain 2022
Brothers Xabi, Iñaki, and Mikel Sanz created Viña Zorzal in 2007, transforming their family's winemaking legacy into a beacon of terroir-driven artisanal production. Their grandfather and father ran Bodegas Correlana (renamed Vinícola Corellana in 1989 by their father Antonio Sanz), achieving great commercial success in Navarra. While the older generation focused on volume and viable trade, the brothers took a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on single-parcels and single-vineyards to express the unique terroir of Fitero and Corella in the Ribera Baja sub-zone of Navarra DO. The landscape here differs dramatically from the flatter Ebro Valley areas where Garnacha and Tempranillo are mass-produced. Luis Gutiérrez of Wine Advocate describes Viña Zorzal as "one of the most dynamic producers not only in Navarra but in the whole of Spain." The winery takes its name from the zorzal (thrush), a small bird found throughout the region, symbolizing their connection to nature and biodiversity. Viña Zorzal has gained international acclaim for their Graciano—the first wine they produced in 2007—quickly making their reputation with this historically important but nearly forgotten variety.
- WINEMAKER: Brothers Xabi, Iñaki, and Mikel Sanz (Iñaki manages winery operations, Mikel oversees viticulture, Xabi handles sales). Consulting winemaker Jorge Navascués (Garnacha expert from neighboring Aragón).
- FARMING: Certified Organic (organic since 2007). Low-intervention, environmentally-friendly viticulture with no soil tilling. All vineyard work done manually. Native plants used as ground cover with compost to improve vine resistance to disease. No additives used.
- VARIETY: 100% Graciano. A black-skinned red grape indigenous to northern Spain, primarily grown in Rioja and Navarra. Known for its intense perfume, deep color, high natural acidity, firm tannins, and exceptional aging potential. The variety nearly went extinct following phylloxera due to low yields and disease susceptibility, but has experienced a revival in recent decades. Graciano ripens late—typically the last variety harvested at Viña Zorzal—and thrives in warm, arid climates. The grape produces wines characterized by aromas of blackberry, mulberry, violet, licorice, and chocolate.
- TERROIR: Vineyards in Corella, Navarra, in the Ribera Baja sub-zone. Located at the first foothills of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range where the Ebro Valley meets the mountains, creating a natural oasis with extra freshness compared to the flat Ebro Basin. Continental climate with long, dry summers and cold winters, approximately 500mm annual rainfall. Rocky and stony soils with variegated heterogeneous clays, limestone, and composite soils. The non-homogeneous clay-based soils are much more permeable and resistant to erosion than typical Ebro Basin soils. Stones retain heat during the day and release it at night, encouraging grape ripening while serving as a protective moisture-retaining layer during dry summer months. The 2022 vintage was marked by extreme weather—the earliest harvest in Viña Zorzal's history due to exceptionally long, hot, dry summer conditions. Despite the challenges, Graciano performed exceptionally well, maintaining its characteristic high acidity and fresh profile. The intense heat resulted in smaller berries with concentrated flavors, and patient harvest timing after late August rains allowed optimal ripeness.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested from vineyards around Corella village. Light maceration followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks with very soft pump-overs to achieve an approachable, fresh style with typicity. Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. 25% of the wine racked into French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, while 75% completed malolactic in stainless steel. Minimal intervention philosophy—wines ferment spontaneously, racking is avoided, and wines are neither filtered nor clarified. Only a sufficient, moderate amount of sulfur added.
- AGING: The wines were blended and rested for 9 months on their lees in French oak barrels of varying sizes (225-, 300-, 400-, and 500-liter). Bottled April 2024. 38,000 bottles produced. Moderate 12.8% alcohol, pH 3.39, 5.65 g/L acidity.
- TASTING NOTES: Medium-intensity ruby red with clear brightness. High-intensity aromas of red and black fruits—raspberry, red plum skin, mulberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant. Lively black pepper, wild herbs, and earthy tones with hints of licorice and spice. Honeyed notes with hints of beeswax and pollen add complexity. The palate is approachable and fresh with typicity, medium-bodied with balanced, friendly tannins. Remarkably fresh and pure despite the warm 2022 vintage—the wine maintains excellent acidity and tension with some chalkiness, without any heaviness or heat. Moderately tannic with a vibrant, elegant structure. Long finish with spicy character.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled or roasted meats (lamb, beef, brisket, tri-tip), well-spiced chorizo and lentil stew, lamb-stuffed peppers, spicy pasta dishes, barbecue, blue cheese, blackened cajun catfish, spicy black tapenade, aged cheeses, dishes with Mediterranean herbs.
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SCORES:
- 92 points, Wine Advocate (Luis Gutiérrez)
Viña Zorzal Graciano, Navarra, Spain 2022
Brothers Xabi, Iñaki, and Mikel Sanz created Viña Zorzal in 2007, transforming their family's winemaking legacy into a beacon of terroir-driven artisanal production. Their grandfather and father ran Bodegas Correlana (renamed Vinícola Corellana in 1989 by their father Antonio Sanz), achieving great commercial success in Navarra. While the older generation focused on volume and viable trade, the brothers took a holistic approach to agriculture, focusing on single-parcels and single-vineyards to express the unique terroir of Fitero and Corella in the Ribera Baja sub-zone of Navarra DO. The landscape here differs dramatically from the flatter Ebro Valley areas where Garnacha and Tempranillo are mass-produced. Luis Gutiérrez of Wine Advocate describes Viña Zorzal as "one of the most dynamic producers not only in Navarra but in the whole of Spain." The winery takes its name from the zorzal (thrush), a small bird found throughout the region, symbolizing their connection to nature and biodiversity. Viña Zorzal has gained international acclaim for their Graciano—the first wine they produced in 2007—quickly making their reputation with this historically important but nearly forgotten variety.
- WINEMAKER: Brothers Xabi, Iñaki, and Mikel Sanz (Iñaki manages winery operations, Mikel oversees viticulture, Xabi handles sales). Consulting winemaker Jorge Navascués (Garnacha expert from neighboring Aragón).
- FARMING: Certified Organic (organic since 2007). Low-intervention, environmentally-friendly viticulture with no soil tilling. All vineyard work done manually. Native plants used as ground cover with compost to improve vine resistance to disease. No additives used.
- VARIETY: 100% Graciano. A black-skinned red grape indigenous to northern Spain, primarily grown in Rioja and Navarra. Known for its intense perfume, deep color, high natural acidity, firm tannins, and exceptional aging potential. The variety nearly went extinct following phylloxera due to low yields and disease susceptibility, but has experienced a revival in recent decades. Graciano ripens late—typically the last variety harvested at Viña Zorzal—and thrives in warm, arid climates. The grape produces wines characterized by aromas of blackberry, mulberry, violet, licorice, and chocolate.
- TERROIR: Vineyards in Corella, Navarra, in the Ribera Baja sub-zone. Located at the first foothills of the Sistema Ibérico mountain range where the Ebro Valley meets the mountains, creating a natural oasis with extra freshness compared to the flat Ebro Basin. Continental climate with long, dry summers and cold winters, approximately 500mm annual rainfall. Rocky and stony soils with variegated heterogeneous clays, limestone, and composite soils. The non-homogeneous clay-based soils are much more permeable and resistant to erosion than typical Ebro Basin soils. Stones retain heat during the day and release it at night, encouraging grape ripening while serving as a protective moisture-retaining layer during dry summer months. The 2022 vintage was marked by extreme weather—the earliest harvest in Viña Zorzal's history due to exceptionally long, hot, dry summer conditions. Despite the challenges, Graciano performed exceptionally well, maintaining its characteristic high acidity and fresh profile. The intense heat resulted in smaller berries with concentrated flavors, and patient harvest timing after late August rains allowed optimal ripeness.
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested from vineyards around Corella village. Light maceration followed by fermentation in stainless steel tanks with very soft pump-overs to achieve an approachable, fresh style with typicity. Spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts. 25% of the wine racked into French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, while 75% completed malolactic in stainless steel. Minimal intervention philosophy—wines ferment spontaneously, racking is avoided, and wines are neither filtered nor clarified. Only a sufficient, moderate amount of sulfur added.
- AGING: The wines were blended and rested for 9 months on their lees in French oak barrels of varying sizes (225-, 300-, 400-, and 500-liter). Bottled April 2024. 38,000 bottles produced. Moderate 12.8% alcohol, pH 3.39, 5.65 g/L acidity.
- TASTING NOTES: Medium-intensity ruby red with clear brightness. High-intensity aromas of red and black fruits—raspberry, red plum skin, mulberry, blackberry, and blackcurrant. Lively black pepper, wild herbs, and earthy tones with hints of licorice and spice. Honeyed notes with hints of beeswax and pollen add complexity. The palate is approachable and fresh with typicity, medium-bodied with balanced, friendly tannins. Remarkably fresh and pure despite the warm 2022 vintage—the wine maintains excellent acidity and tension with some chalkiness, without any heaviness or heat. Moderately tannic with a vibrant, elegant structure. Long finish with spicy character.
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled or roasted meats (lamb, beef, brisket, tri-tip), well-spiced chorizo and lentil stew, lamb-stuffed peppers, spicy pasta dishes, barbecue, blue cheese, blackened cajun catfish, spicy black tapenade, aged cheeses, dishes with Mediterranean herbs.
-
SCORES:
- 92 points, Wine Advocate (Luis Gutiérrez)