2021 Sierra Cantabria Coleccion Privada

Whaauw - Top Rioja. Limited availability. According to Parker we have here a sexy, kinky, exceptionaly perfumed. What more can we add. The Rioja Coleccion Privada is a pure Tempranillo from 2 vineyards in the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Jarrarte and Valgrande, planted in 1957 and 1959 respectively. The 2 vineyards are fermented separately, Jarrarte with a traditional maceration and matured in French barrels. All the barrels are new, and the wine matures in them for 16-18 months. The Rioja Coleccion Privada has a very ripe nose with notes of rotten violets, strawberries, plums and dark cherries complemented by a creamy layer of oak with spices and nutmeg. The taste is opulent, round and juicy with lots of tannins and moderate acidity and a beautiful finish. Only 11,000 bottles produced.

Year after year, high scores from all wine reviewers and always well above 90 points.

The vineyards are only 4 hectares in total and have calcareous clay soils; an abundance of gravel and small round stones on the surface. Planting year: 1957 and 1959. Environmentally integrated agricultural cultivation, with viticulture that respects the environment, according to the biorhythms of the plant. Organic fertilization and strictly hand-picking of the bunches. Second selection in the estate by means of a double sorting table.

Average yield 2017: 22 hls./ha.
Harvest date: September 20-22, 2017.
Tempranillo 100% of the vines planted in 1957 and 1959.
VINIFICATION: Traditional elaboration, with two vinifications: de-rusted (50%) and vinification with the bunch of grapes (50%). Skin maceration: 14 days. Daily pump-overs; energetic at the beginning with decreasing frequency in the last days. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, selected from our own vineyards and temperature-controlled (23°C, 75.2°F).
MALOLACTIC FERMENTATION: in barrel.
AGING: 16 months in new oak - 50% French oak, 50% American oak.

FACT: In the Tab: Attachment you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will automatically send it to you when you order this wine. The wine is in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you come to pick up the wine you will also receive a nice discount.

RIOJA 2021

The end of autumn and the beginning of winter are characterized by abundant rainfall in San Vicente and Páganos. Early 2021 with low temperatures and high precipitation (also snow) (Filomena), resulting in a very important accumulation of water in the soil, creating a good compaction and nitrification of the soil, very favorable for the vines. Early March is dry and with mild temperatures, causing the vines to cry for the first time. Beginning of bud break in early April, with slightly cool temperatures and little vegetative development. Light frosts on April 14th and 17th caused minor and variable damage, depending on the vineyard plots. Rainfall in April was lower than the usual average. Early May was dry and temperatures were very mild, below normal. At the beginning of spring (early June), flowering occurred around June 12th. This is a period of rainfall that causes light flower buds, giving the impression that it would be a short harvest. In mid-June, there were some hailstorms that did not cause major damage, but limited the harvest. Two months of total absence of rain began: July and August. From July to September, temperatures exceeded the average and reached 38ºC.

From 14 to 18 September, rain falls in varying amounts, creating alarming uncertainty about the health and the final ripening period. These September rains increase the berry and bunch size, and followed by low temperatures and sunny weather will cause a rapid end of ripening and eliminate the risk of botrytis, balancing the physiological, phenolic and aromatic ripening. The harvest of the white varieties begins on 1-2 October and the red on 5 October, obtaining grapes with a total acidity slightly higher than in a normal year and a spectacular phenolic ripening.