THE HARVEST
Grapes sourced from old vines, 40 year-old averge age vineyards located in the highest ground of Rioja Alavesa in the foothills of Sierra Cantabria around Laguardia, Elvillar and Kripan. This is the heartland and best “terroir” of Rioja Alavesa.
The grapes 100% Tempranillo, are picked by hand and put in boxes with a first, vineyard selection that involves discarding there those that don’t meet the mark.
VINIFICATION
Grapes are hand harvested in small 15kg boxes from small plots. Once in the winemaking cellar, the berries are inspected on the selection table and then destemmed, crushed and cold macerated for four days at 8ºC before undergoing alcoholic fermentation at an average controlled temperature of 28-30ºC. Once fermentation is completed, the wine is kept in deposits for good polyphenolic extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place in new oak barrels with regular batonnage of the lees.
THE AGEING
This wine is aged in 80 percent French and 20 per cent American, new oak barrels for 24 months with periodic racking every six months.
TASTING NOTES
Colour: Deep cherry red, clean and bright.
Nose: Good aromatic intensity with notes of ripe red fruits over a base of elegant balsamic.
Palate: In the mouth is tasty, mellow, fresh and with fine nuances of sweet fruit. It has volume and the tannins are wel integrated and polished. In the afterstaste, touches of very ripe fruit and nuances of liquor appear making it last in the palate.
Food matches: This wine pairs well with roasted lamb, feathered game, meaty stews or hard cheeses.
