Fruit
Earth
Acid
Body
Tannins
This library release from the venerable Bodega fills the bill. This wine is a single-vineyard Gran Reserva from one of Ostatu’s oldest vineyards planted in 1945, El Rincón. It is located in the heart of Rioja Alavesa at 600m. 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano planted in poor clay soils with a limestone-rich subsoil. 2011 was a warm dry year for the area, but the high altitude means cool nights preserving freshness along with structure. The wine was aged 24 months in 1 and 2-year-old 225L barrels and an additional five months in old 4,000L foudres. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered in September 2014. Decant this wine and then dive into the broad aromatics of dark fruit, spice, cocoa nib, saddle, and on and on. The palate is full of fine grained tannins that are undeniably present, yet velvety. It has a great long finish for Dads to quietly ponder!
Country
Spain
Sub-Region
Rioja Alavesa
Region
Rioja
Varieties
Tempranillo
Farming
Sustainable
Soil
Clay
Winemaking
Malolactic fermentation in new French oak casks. The wine is aged for almost 24 months in 50% new and 50% for the 1st and 2nd year French oak cask. After that, the wine goes to a wooden vat for extra 5 months ageing.