Andalucía is one of the more captivating regions in Spain. From the sunset in Cádiz, to the Flamenco in Seville, to the detailed Moorish architecture of Granada, the diversity of Spain’s most southerly region is unmatched. Presently, Andalucía is best-known for Sherry, the highly regarded, fortified wine made in the western part of the region near Cádiz. Take a short drive east, however, and you reach the ancient city of Málaga, where Romans and Moors have been making wines since 600 BC.
In contrast to its western neighbors, Málaga boasts high-altitude rolling hills, slate and limestone soils, and plantings of some serious old-vine Garnacha. Its proximity to the Mediterranean Sea and slightly cooler temperatures give the wines of Málaga a fragrant, wild, slightly rustic expression of Garnacha that differs from, say, some of the inkier blends of the Montsant further north. This wine from Sedella is an excellent illustration of the complexity and savor a Garnacha from the steep slopes of Málaga can offer, delivering a snapshot of one of the more historic, distinct regions of southern Spain. At $22, this is arguably the best Spanish red-wine value I’ve come across this year.
Pick up any menu in Andalucía and gazpacho will be the first thing you see, but this spicy, earthy red calls for some protein. Try the attached Andalusian lamb recipe to bring out the wine's meaty richness. It is an entirely unique take on Garnacha and a lot of wine for the money. Buen provecho!