Ochoa Lagrima Rosa DO Navarra, 2018

The Navarra region in northern Spain’s Basque Country lies around the town of Pamplona, renowned for its centuries-old annual Festival of San Fermín – the “running of the bulls” epitomized by Ernest Hemingway. Drinking wine was also a regular pastime of his in The Sun Also Rises! Navarra has a history of producing rosé wines. Lagrima 2018, produced by Javier Ochoa, is a blend of 40% Garnacha, 40% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was made according to the “sangrado”, known as saignée or bleeding method, traditional to the region. Medium pink in colour, it is a more serious style of rosé with less fruit and a more vinous style. Grapes were lightly crushed, and the skins left in contact with the juice for four to six hours before fermentation.