Lectores Vini ‘Pomagrana’ Rosado 2021
Lectores Vini ‘Pomagrana’ Rosado 2021 at Somebody People in Denver, CO
Conca de Barberà D.O. - Catalonia, Spain
Warm weather is here at last and this is exactly the style of wine I love to sip as the days grow longer and temperatures rise. I’ll call this wine a “Rosado”, which is Spanish for rosé, but the style sits smack in between a rosé and a light red. The tannins are soft and the red fruit flavors are bright and punchy with a tart profile. It’s no wonder they chose to call this wine ‘Pomegrana’ as the flavor profile echoes the experience of arils bursting on the tongue.
The wine is a blend of 91% Trepat and 9% Tempranillo. Trepat is a red wine grape variety indigenous to northeastern Spain. It makes frequent appearances in Spain’s pink sparkling wines, known as Cava, and is sometimes blended, as in this case, with grapes like Tempranillo and Garnacha. The grape is known for its bright berry flavors and solid acid structure, a key component in sparkling wine production.
Tempranillo, on the other hand, is a grape variety that has served as Spain’s answer to the bold, robust Cabernet Sauvignon made famous by the Bordeaux region of France. The grapes have thicker skins resulting in tannic, complex wines with fierce intensity. In this case, the addition of 9% Tempranillo provides structure and depth to support the fruit-laden profile of Trepat.
The Conca de Barberà region of Catalonia is well known for its Trepat wines, producing a range of styles from light and elegant to bold and robust. While the grape is less well-known than other Spanish varieties, its popularity is rising and the wines it produces are helping the region gain global recognition.
Lectores Vini is a collaboration between Fredi Torres and Marc Lecha who came together in a combined effort to elevate the representation of the Catalonia region on the world wine stage. Torres’ family roots originated in the Iberian Peninsula where he grew up farming and fishing the waters off the coast of Galicia (if you love Albariño, this is your region). He traveled the world studying winemaking and visiting famous wine regions across the globe before returning to Spain and purchasing his first vineyards.
In 2013, Torres and Lecha launched Lectores Vini with six hectares of vines set in the pristine Priorat region. This area is recognized for its production of premium Garnacha and Carignan wines. The steep, rocky vineyard sites offer excellent drainage for the vines but present challenges to wine growers who must harvest and work the land without machinery, instead doing everything by hand or with the help of livestock.
When the time came, at last, to bring the fruit of their labor to the marketplace, Pomagrana was the duo’s first release. With reverence to Mother Nature, Torres and Lecha committed themselves to the practice of organic viticulture. In the winery, they focus on minimal intervention techniques to allow the fruit to be as expressive of the land as possible.
To make Pomegrana, the fruit is hand-harvested, fully destemmed, and set to macerate in contact with the skins for about two weeks. The juice is pressed away from the solids and fermented with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. When the fermentation is complete, the wine rests in contact with the lees, or dead yeast cells, to add depth and complexity before being filtered.
In the glass, the wine is a brilliant shade of fuchsia-red reminiscent of the color of pomegranate juice. At just 11% alcohol, it’s light and bright on the palate, making it an excellent choice for brunch or early afternoon enjoyment. Before pulling the cork, pop it in the refrigerator or set it in a wine chiller for a fabulously refreshing tasting experience.
The nose is lively and vibrant with notes of cranberry, pomegranate, and cherry with a slight floral aroma that screams for a patio. The palate offers more of the same with notes of strawberry joining the party and a touch of citrus that leans more toward grapefruit than lemon. The natural approach to winemaking gives it a subtle effervescence that’s very fun and feels totally appropriate to the style.
Wine Features
91% Trepat and 9% Tempranillo
Practicing Organic
Vegan
Low sulfite
Grapes grown in clay and limestone soils
Average vine age of 20 years
Hand-harvested
Natural yeast fermentation
Aged four months in stainless steel in contact with the lees (dead yeast cells)
Serve chilled at around 45°F
11% alcohol
$20 - $25
Click the image to see my Instagram Reel featuring this wine!
‘Pomagrana’ at Somebody People in Denver
If you happen to live in Denver, you can find this wine by the glass or bottle at Somebody People on South Broadway near I-25.
The restaurant’s menu is dedicated to fresh, sustainable food and wine and I found this wine to be a remarkable pairing with their gnocchi dish served with Japanese yam, carrot berbere, chermoula, and fresh radish. The rich spice flavors of the dish and perfectly pillowy gnocchi were balanced beautifully by the wine.
Check out my editorial for DiningOut Magazine featuring this and several other outstanding sustainable wines in Denver restaurants in honor of Earth Month in April 2023.
Enjoying this wine at home?
A simple spread of Jamón ibérico, Manchego, Marcona almonds, and olives is a no-fail combination. Pick up some tips in this video!
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When I come across a sparkling wine that has it all, I have to share it. Handley Estate Vineyard Brut Rosé 2016 is a fine blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay made in the champagne method. The grapes are certified organic and the winery was founded by a trailblazer of a lady, Milla Handley back in the 1980s. A stunning sparkling rosé, this bottle comes to Denver through the distribution portfolio of Master Sommelier, Doug Krenik.