Today we share the beautiful wines of Alto Moncayo, founded back in 2002. They focused on producing old vine Garnacha wines from a very special microclimate and location. The vineyard is set in Borja-in the middle of the Campo de Borja DO . Vines are planted at the foothills of El Moncayo which is the highest point in the Iberian Mountain Range (2,315 m). This is a really unique terroir for the region, as the vines are planted on red iron rich clay mixed with red slate. The slate imparts a stony character in the wine.
Winemaker Jose Luis Chueca crafts his bottlings that are made traditionally and undergo malolactic fermentation in both French & American oak. They are then aged in new barrels between anywhere from 16-24 months before bottling. The wines were serious good. I love the new 2022 Alto Moncayo Garnacha (OB, 95) which gets you plenty of bang for under 95 bucks and is juicy and delicious stuff with great stony nuance. Learn more about this famed house at
2023 Alto Moncayo ‘Locos por el Vino Zismero’ Garnacha- This 2023 Garnacha comes from vines ranging from 15-20 years of age. Ripe cherry and strawberry combine with shades of garrigue on the palate. Juicy and delicious, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2021 Alto Moncayo ‘Locas por el Vino Baramban’ Red Wine- The 2021 Alto Moncayo ‘Locas por el Vino Baramban’ Red Wine combines Garnacha and Tempranillo which are both grown at high elevation. Bright red fruits mingle well with tobacco leaf and shades of green bell pepper on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 90
2019 Alto Moncayo ‘Locas por el Vino Grunon’ Red Wine- The really good 2019 Alto Moncayo ‘Locas por el Vino Grunon’ Red Wine is an equal combination of Shiraz and Garnacha. It is dense and plush stuff with bright acidity and a terrific sense of weight. Milk chocolate and damp soil nuances combine with rich dark fruits on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 91
2021 Alto Moncayo ‘Veraton’ Garnacha- The 2021 ‘Veraton’ checks in at 15.5% alcohol but you would not initially get that hot presence. This is beautifully weighted stuff with bright acidity and plenty of citrus zest flavors. Dense guava and red cherry mingle well with garrigue and wet granite on the palate. Already nicely evolved, enjoy over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2022 Alto Moncayo Garnacha- Sourced form Garnacha vines from 40-70 years of age, this comes from vineyards planted in Tabuenca and Borja. This is dense and delicious stuff that has amazing stuffing and verve. A great melange of black and red fruits combine with smoked meats, green peppercorn, wet stone and herbs de Provence on the palate. Gorgeous and fresh with bright underlying acidity, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95
2018 Alto Moncayo ‘Aquilon’ Garnacha- The 2018 ‘Aquilon’ is a stunning wine that combines vines from 60-100 years of age. Stored in a combination of American and French oak, this offers violets and dried sage on the nose with wet stone, beef drippings and lush red fruit aromatics. The palate is dense and heady with a terrific sense of texture and underlying verve. Very opulent and viscous, this is already drinking beautifully right now. Drink 2025-2040- 97