2022 Care Nativa Garnacha Viñas Viejas Cariñena 750 ml

Spanish Garnacha is one of the finest values in the wine world, and Care's Nativa is perhaps the premiere deal out there.

This is a do-everything bottle that defines “crowd pleaser.” Wine Access members agreed about previous vintages, saying things like “Just excellent, and for the price, amazing! An excellent everyday-drinking wine!”

Aromatically, we were entranced by the blend of purple flowers, dark cherries, and plums, all leading to a juicy palate of dark fruit layered with vanilla and baking spices.

Bodegas Care hails from Cariñena, one of the top spots for Garnacha in Spain. The estate’s old, gnarled vines date back to 1948, with roots that reach deep into the limestone-heavy soils in search of water. The vines grow in a high desert-like plateau in Aragón, where hot days allow for easy ripening and rich fruit but the altitude brings chilly nights that help preserve acidity. It’s a recipe for a do-it-all wine like the Nativa Garnacha.

In the winery, the Care team sorts the grapes gently then puts them in truncated-cone stainless fermenters before moving to basket-style presses—techniques that you’d expect from wineries that produce much more expensive bottles, and ones that ensure the wine has a velvety mouthfeel. Aging in used oak barrels allows enough oxygenation for complexity to develop without the influence of wood, resulting in an irresistibly sippable wine that’s delicious on its own or with a classic meal.

From roast chicken to a mellow night on the porch, this wine pairs with just about anything.