Gatito Loco Organic Rioja 2020
- 91
- $32
- Drink by: 2022-2027
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Another striking label with an exciting Spanish blend from Rioja, again organic. 70% Tempranillo and 30% Garnacha. This is deliberately very different to your traditional Rioja, with an emphasis placed on what the vineyard offers rather than what can be done in the winery with grapes harvested during the night to retain freshness. The wines undergo a cool fermentation for 15 to 20 days followed by another 12 days on skins, for post maceration, all of which is designed to focus on the fruit. Deep, dark maroon in colour. This is full of black fruits and chocolate, while also earthy and warm – one can’t help but imagine walking the hills of Spain with a glass in hand. Notes of roast meats, delicatessen touches, dried herbs with some early complexity emerging. Lot of flavour here, which is exactly what is intended and the wine is unoaked. It will age and drink well over the next five years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
