From very low-yielding, high-altitude and south facing vineyards and vines that are 50 to 70 years old.
Very traditionally (and carefully) made, as the winery explains:
The grapes are harvested at dawn to select the grapes for their balance between freshness, structure and ripeness. The grapes are harvested by hand on pallets and trailers. Fermentation at 28ºC in concrete tanks, 20 days of maceration and between 4 and 5 gentle manual pumpovers each day. Malolactic fermentation in concrete and aging in French and American oak barrels for 36 months. Subsequent resting in concrete tanks and bottle rack.
Then, of course, a very long aging in bottle before release.
So what you’re getting is the very top wine of an outstanding winery, perfectly aged for 16 years, for only $20. No wonder so many wine experts and consumers consider top-class and classic Rioja Gran Reservas like this to be the world’s greatest values in high-quality red wines.
