J.Eubank & L.P. Almazlinos Gràcies, Pepito 2019

Gràcies, Pepito 2019 is a red wine made from co-fermented Grenache (Garnacha Tinta) and Alexandrian Muscat, sourced from the Escollades vineyard just outside Pinell de Brai in Catalonia's Terra Alta DO. The grapes are farmed by Josep Ramon Alabart. This was the debut vintage for the project.

The co-fermentation of Grenache with aromatic Alexandrian Muscat is an unconventional choice that pulls this wine away from the typical Terra Alta red profile. Muscat of Alexandria adds floral lift and aromatic intensity to the Grenache base, which in Terra Alta tends toward ripe red fruit and garrigue character on calcareous, clay-limestone soils.

Terra Alta sits at the southernmost tip of Catalonia, bordered by Aragon to the west and the Ebro River to the north. The region's plateau vineyards are swept by the cerç (a dry northwesterly wind) and the garbí (a southeasterly sea breeze), both of which regulate vine health and extend the growing season. Soils range from clay-limestone to the distinctive panal — a fine sandy soil originating from ancient fossil dunes — which provides excellent drainage.

Josh Eubank and Lara Almazlinos make their wines in Pinell de Brai, a town that has become a focal point for natural winemakers in Terra Alta, in part due to the influence of pioneers like Laureano Serres Montagut of Mendall. Gràcies, Pepito 2019 is their first release.