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Miguel Merino Rioja la Quinta Cruz Mazuelo 2022 750ml
OUT OF STOCK
Sample image only.Please see Item description for product Information. When ordering, the item shipped will match the product listing if there are any discrepancies. Do not order solely on the label if you feel it does not match product description.
SKU 1000397
$44.89/bottle
Out of stock
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Immediately inviting, this Mazuelo offers intense varietal characteristics with wild strawberries and mint aromas that opens to a silky, velvety palate with just the right amount of tannic lift. The texture is wonderfully appealing, with a touch of stony grip. Poised and refined, it is a unique take on a cooler zone of Rioja with this different variety. Grown on a steep, southeast-facing slope in Briones, Rioja Alta: a 1.2ha vineyard planted in 1986 on thin sandy-gravel soils topped by rounded pebbles. Fermented in a small stainless-steel tank, with malolactic fermentation in two 500L French oak barrels and one 1,300L concrete tank, where it remained for 12 months before bottling.
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.
DC96pts
Decanter
Immediately inviting, this Mazuelo offers intense varietal characteristics with wild strawberries and mint aromas that opens to a silky, velvety palate with just the right amount of tannic lift. The texture is wonderfully appealing, with a touch of stony grip. Poised and refined, it is a unique take on a cooler zone of Rioja with this different variety. Grown on a steep, southeast-facing slope in Briones, Rioja Alta: a 1.2ha vineyard planted in 1986 on thin sandy-gravel soils topped by rounded pebbles. Fermented in a small stainless-steel tank, with malolactic fermentation in two 500L French oak barrels and one 1,300L concrete tank, where it remained for 12 months before bottling.
WA94pts
Wine Advocate
Cariñena/Mazuelo is a Mediterranean grape that likes heat—it needs it! And there was plenty of heat in 2022. The 2022 La Quinta Cruz Mazuelo shows the rustic/elegant character of the grape, combining notions of tree bark with floral aromas, an earthy touch and a medium-bodied palate with fine tannins and great freshness. And the parameters look good: 13.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 5.3 grams of acidity. It matured for 12 months in used 500-liter barrels and concrete. 3,499 bottles were filled in April 2024.
Winery Notes
100% Mazuelo (Carignan) from the La Quinta Cruz vineyard, planted in 1986 on a southeastern slope near the Ebro River. The vineyard's diverse soils range from sandy/clay to stony. Grapes were hand-harvested and fermented in stainless steel, then aged for one year in a combination of large oak barrels and concrete.
