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SKU 988833
$27.94/bottle
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The 2016 Reserva is 100% Tempranillo sourced from San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Labastida, Rioja. Aged for 18 months in equal parts American and French oak barrels, this garnet wine unfolds balsamic, mint and bold garrigue-like aromas, accompanied by licorice and briar notes and a sour cherry core. Dry, chalky and juicy on the palate, the delicate and flavorful flow lingers long with a savory finish. Complex and nuanced, the 2016 captures the essence of Sonsierra Tempranillo.
There are plenty of notable native Spanish grapes which have made a big impression on the wine world at large, but none are as renowned or as widely loved as the Tempranillo varietal. This black skinned grape has been used for wine making for centuries, with several ancient civilizations noticing the fact that it is highly versatile and holds some delicious flavors and aromas, perfect for those looking for a powerful yet elegant grape for their wines. Tempranillo often causes winemakers some trouble, however, as it is highly susceptible to many diseases. Despite this, plenty continue to persevere with this varietal, as it is perfect for producing delicious and complex single variety and blended wines, packed full of classic Spanish flavors and plenty of aromatic and intense surprises.
Country
Spain
Ever since the Phoenicians and Romans brought their knowledge of vine cultivation to Spanish soils, the country's culture has grown alongside wine production, with wine being a vital part of Spanish identity and Spanish traditions. Each region of Spain has a wine quite distinct from the others, and it is produced by smallholders and families as much as it is by large companies and established wineries. From the relatively mild and lush regions of La Rioja to the arid plateaus that surround Madrid, grapes are grown in abundance for the now booming Spanish wine industry, and new laws and regulations have recently been put in place to keep the country's standards high. By combining traditional practices with modern technology, Spanish wineries are continuing to produce distinctive wines of great character, flavor and aroma, with the focus shifting in recent decades to quality over quantity.
Region
La Rioja
La Rioja is by far the most famous wine region of Spain, and remains one of the world's great wine producing regions, consistently offering deep, complex red wines of character and distinction, partly due to the fact that La Rioja benefits from excellent soils, rich in minerals and nutrients, and plenty of sunshine. The climatic conditions allow the fine grape varietals to reach full ripeness and express plenty of the best features of their terroir, making La Rioja wines some of the most interesting to have ever come out of Europe. The Cantabrian mountains to the north provide the perfect shelter from the colder, wetter influences of the Atlantic oceans, and in the beloved vineyards of La Rioja, wineries have been cultivating exceedingly flavorful Tempranillo grapes for generations for the inclusion in their fine single variety and blended wines.
Appellation
Rioja
Rioja, a renowned wine appellation in Spain, stands as an emblem of the country's winemaking heritage and innovation. What makes Rioja unique is its commitment to blending traditional and modern winemaking methods. Primarily crafted from Tempranillo, with Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo as supporting players, Rioja wines showcase a remarkable balance of fruit, oak, and complex aging.
Rioja's classification system, featuring Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, delineates the aging periods, highlighting the region's dedication to quality. The use of American oak barrels imparts distinctive vanilla and coconut notes, contributing to Rioja's recognizable profile. The diverse terroir, from the high-altitude vineyards of Rioja Alta to the warmer Rioja Baja, adds depth and complexity to the wines.
Exploring Rioja allows enthusiasts to savor the rich tapestry of Spanish winemaking, where historic bodegas coexist with modern practices, resulting in wines that seamlessly marry tradition and innovation, offering a glimpse into the soul of Spanish viticulture.
VM94pts
Vinous Media
The 2016 Reserva is 100% Tempranillo sourced from San Vicente de la Sonsierra and Labastida, Rioja. Aged for 18 months in equal parts American and French oak barrels, this garnet wine unfolds balsamic, mint and bold garrigue-like aromas, accompanied by licorice and briar notes and a sour cherry core. Dry, chalky and juicy on the palate, the delicate and flavorful flow lingers long with a savory finish. Complex and nuanced, the 2016 captures the essence of Sonsierra Tempranillo.
WA93pts
Wine Advocate
The 2016 Reserva shows ripeness and jammy fruit with plenty of spice and a powerful, full-bodied palate. It has 14.4% alcohol and a pH of 3.66. They used a little new oak here, 20%, with used 50/50 French and American oak barrels for the aging of 18 months. This was a superb vintage, with quality and quantity, a cooler year with more freshness, and the wines seem to be evolving at a slower pace. It's harmonious and clean, classical and expressive, spicy, with a polished palate and resolved tannins. It is fine-boned, more elegant and has a very good balance—a textbook traditional Reserva from a very good year. 30,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2020.
WE93pts
Wine Enthusiast
This deep-garnet wine has a bouquet of black currant, raspberry, and cocoa powder, with a hint of anisette. Opulent tannins and a well-integrated acidity ply the palate, bringing dark-plum, mocha, anisette and violet flavors that endure in the mouth.
JD91pts
Jeb Dunnuck
The current vintage, the 2016 Sierra Cantabria Reserva is all Tempranillo that comes from a mix of estate vineyards. It spends 18 months in half Bordelaise and half American oak barrels before aging another 12 months in bottle prior to its release. Its deep ruby hue is followed by a complex, medium-bodied Rioja offering attractive red and black fruits, leafy tobacco, graphite, and scorched earth-like aromatics. It's medium-bodied, has a focused, structured mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and outstanding length. It's surprisingly structured and tannic, so give bottles another year or two.
WS90pts
Wine Spectator
Loamy earth and fragrant herb notes offer a savory thread that winds through the black plum and cherry fruit, vanilla and toast flavors in this balanced, medium-bodied red. Structured by lightly chewy tannins and fresh acidity, this shows focus without excessive weight, with a long, zesty, spiced finish. Drink now through 2029. 5,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.
