Wine review: Las Rocas Garnacha 2007

The Wine Curmudgeon has always been ambivalent about the Las Rocas, a Spanish red wine that is one of wine guru Robert Parker's favorite wines. It wasn't so much the quality of the wine as the hype and the price. In Dallas, it's almost never less than $12, and, frankly, for $12, I always expected a lot more than the Las Rocas delivered.

The 2007 vintage is mostly more of the same, though I found it for $10 (purchased) as an increasing number of local retailers are trying to clear out inventory. It's fruity and extracted (think very dark berries that coat your mouth), high in alcohol at 14.5 percent, and has lots of oak, especially for a wine at this price. No doubt those qualities are why it appeals to Parker.

I don't think it's a better value than Osborne's Solaz, but if you drink the Las Rocas with grilled beef or something similarly hefty, which will match the fruit, oak and alcohol, you'll understand why so many people enjoy it.

Technorati tags: wine reviews, red wine, Spanish wine, Robert Parker, Las Rocas, garnacha

Comments

[KristinL]

I've tried this wine a couple of times and never really understood why it got such favorable press. But then, I'm usually not a fan of wines that Parker thinks highly of. Over extraction, too much oak, and high alcohol don't make for food friendly wines in my book. This wine always had an odd taste to the finish too. Thanks for speaking out against so much hype. - Kristin in Atlanta

[Jeff Siegel]

I actually got a couple of emails about this post, and they said about the same thing you said. Go figure why this wine is so popular.

[Bobby Cox]

Kristin,
In IMHO this wine was produced using a method called Micro Oxygenation. Tannins are added and then oxidized by injecting pure oxygen into the wine. This process gives that "Parker" character and way too often that odd finish. Grow good grapes and then don't mess with them. I am a WINEGROWER not a winemaker.

[Dr. Douglas Shearer]

This particular wine, 2007 Las Rocas garnache...is almost undrinkable! I don't care what Robert Parker says....but a few of us wine lovers here in the heart of WA state wine country (Yakima County) found this wine to be horrible! No follow through taste, tart, alcoholic in taste with very little 'wine flavor.' So, no matter if Parker likes it....save your money and try another!! (Doug in Yakima, WA)

[Jeff Siegel]

Thanks, Doug, for making me feel better about not liking this wine.

[John]

I thought the Las Rocas was just OK... Until I tasted the Las Rocas "Old Vines" Garnacha for about $4 more per bottle than the "intro" Las Rocas. It is fantastic and makes the regular Las Rocas seem over rated and over priced.