Its not very often you see a wine made exclusively from the grape Graciano, a little known Spanish grape grown in Rioja and Navarra. The Sanz family has made a brilliant Graciano in 2016. It produces full bodied red wines, with dark cherries, plums and damson aromas. Meaty and grippy, a very good little wine. Vina Zorzal, Zoral being Spanish for the little bird on the label, a thrush, is the project of 3 brothers who took over from their father’s wine business. They produce brilliant value for money wines.

This has the spicy, earthy character typical of this Rioja grape but with wonderful gentle, sweet fruit. Graciano, once much more widely planted in Spain (and one of the supporting grapes in Rioja), is being appreciated anew for its aroma and freshness. If this wine were a dog it would be a: Norfolk Terrier – big mouth, short, muscular.