The Traza, 2006, Graciano has a very informative label, so I'm not totally in the dark as to this wine's origin. For instance, I know the name of the winemaker, David Sampedro. I know it's 100% made from the Graciano grape and it's from the La Rioja region in Spain. And that's just the front label: the back label is chock-a-block with info like, for example, this wine has seen "no oak".
In my Wines of the World class, I learned that the Graciano grape, of unknown origin (here we go again), only accounts for 1-2% of the total grape acreage in Rioja, where it usually blended with Tempranillo and Carignane. Interestingly, Graciano has a slightly unusual growth cycle with a late bud break, so late ripening, and it's leaves turn red and drop off late in the season - which would have me thinking, virus!
Initially, the wine tasted a little metallic, but showed splendidly with food; nice colour extraction; nice tannin structure; nice fruity aroma; could have done with a bit more acid. On the whole, rather enjoyable. I'm left wondering if there is another bottle of this particular wine downstairs that I also don't know about.
