13 Jul Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Anima Nua Cor Viu 2009 Ull De Lllebre, DO Conca de Barberà

Catalonia is a region in the north-east of the Iberian peninsula in Spain. Within Catalonia are 10 denominated wine regions. One of the better known regions is Penedès but another denomination in Catalonia is Conca de Barberà. This week, I opened the Anima Nua Cor Viu 2009 Ull De Lllebre from Conca de Barberà, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

Conca de Barberà is located in Tarragona, one of the four provinces of Catalonia which borders the Mediterranean Sea. Conca de Barberà is located in the river valleys of the Francoli and Anguera. The vineyards sit at elevations ranging from 350 to 900 meters above sea level and benefit from a Mediterranean climate, elevation, slope and exposure differences throughout the region. Conca de Barberà was officially recognized as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in 1985.

Anima Nua Cor Viu is an organic brand produced by Cellers Domenys, a cooperative in Catalonia that is more than 100 years old. The Anima Nua Cor Viu Ull de Llebre is a red wine. Ull de Llebre is another name for Tempranillo. The grapes are from 20 and 35 year old vines from certified Organic vineyards. Fermenation is slow with pump overs for 10 days. The wine spends 5 months on the lees in steel tanks before being bottled unfiltered.

The wine is a purple-red color. The nose is intense with ripe red and black fruit aromas including black raspberries, black currants, and blackberries, as well as spice notes. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with juicy, fresh acidity. The fruit notes carry through onto the palate and the texture of the wine is smooth with soft tannins. This is a very elegant wine that was enjoyed with a plate of cheese and crackers.