Wine: Sierra Cantabria 2001 Gran Reserva
Winery: Bodegas y Viñedos Sierra Cantabria (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 98% Tempranillo, 2% Graciano
ABV: 13% vol.
Winery: Bodegas y Viñedos Sierra Cantabria (San Vicente de la Sonsierra, La Rioja)
Appellation / Zone: D.O.Ca. Rioja
Varietals: 98% Tempranillo, 2% Graciano
ABV: 13% vol.
Winemaking:
Harvested during the final days of October from estate vineyards in San Vicente de la Sonsierra with vines over 30 years old. Manual selection in the vineyard and upon arrival at the winery. Fermentation in tanks for 8 days at controlled temperatures (28–32°C), followed by a 21-day post-fermentative maceration. The wine matured for 24 months in 225-liter American oak barrels (75% used, 25% new). Rackings were performed every 4 months during the first year and every 6 months during the second. Bottled unfiltered in February 2004, resting for a minimum of 36 months in the cellar before release.
Harvested during the final days of October from estate vineyards in San Vicente de la Sonsierra with vines over 30 years old. Manual selection in the vineyard and upon arrival at the winery. Fermentation in tanks for 8 days at controlled temperatures (28–32°C), followed by a 21-day post-fermentative maceration. The wine matured for 24 months in 225-liter American oak barrels (75% used, 25% new). Rackings were performed every 4 months during the first year and every 6 months during the second. Bottled unfiltered in February 2004, resting for a minimum of 36 months in the cellar before release.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Garnet-red color with high depth; extremely extracted, closed, and
opaque. Vivid, brilliant reddish reflections. Narrow orange rim, sharply
defined against the meniscus. Significant viscosity with abundant,
tinted, and permanent tears.
Nose:
Upon opening, it exhibits high-potency aromas dominated by notes of
charcoal, ash, and embers, which overshadow any background details. It
feels constrained, inward-looking, and somewhat disjointed—muzzled by a
corset of toasted oak that restricts its breathing. After two hours of
aeration, it reveals an abundance of spices (black pepper, clove),
balsamic hints, herbal notes, licorice, and burnt coffee. A solid core
of black fruit is accompanied by a soft vanilla nuance in the
background.
Palate:
Equally powerful on the palate. Mature, bordering on overripe; broad
and concentrated with a heavy presence of roasted notes and a
high-quality sweet edge. Despite over a decade in the bottle, some
unpolished "woody" edges remain. Bitter and balsamic, it overflows with
structure and muscle. A profile quite unusual for a Riojan Gran Reserva.
Commentary:
A curious wine that lacks tenderness. Its style sits at the polar opposite of traditional expectations for this category, which may prove confusing for some consumers. It is a sonorous, muscular red that prioritizes impact over the classic fluid elegance of Haro. It will be interesting to see how the 1994 to 1998 vintages compare to this robust 2001.
A curious wine that lacks tenderness. Its style sits at the polar opposite of traditional expectations for this category, which may prove confusing for some consumers. It is a sonorous, muscular red that prioritizes impact over the classic fluid elegance of Haro. It will be interesting to see how the 1994 to 1998 vintages compare to this robust 2001.
Personal Score: 84
Tasting Group Average: 83
Tasting Group Average: 83
No comments:
Post a Comment