Name: Sierra Cantabria Rioja Finca el Bosque 2023 750ml
Brand: Sierra Cantabria
SKU: 1021405
Price: 151.94 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 94.7 (3 reviews)

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Winery

Sierra Cantabria

Shop all from Sierra Cantabria

Varietal

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.

WA 95pts

Wine Advocate

The 2023 El Bosque is pure Tempranillo from the 1.482 hectares planted in 1973 on deep soils with gravels but a small portion was not ripped up to extract the gravel. It fermented in oak vats with indigenous yeasts selected from their own vineyard and matured in new French oak barrels for 16 months. It's spicy and ripe, generously oaked, a wine with clout and power. It comes in at 14.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.75 and 5.97 grams of acidity and abundant tannins and a slightly bitter twist in the finish. This needs more time in bottle. It was bottled in July 2025. In 2021, they were lucky enough to purchase some more vines in this same place, a further 3.5 hectares; so, they have five hectares together. Those grapes will contribute to this wine from 2024, as they had three years to obtain organic certification and make it into the wine, but it's not yet bottled, so it's still unknown how many bottles they will produce. All their vineyards are certified organic, but they don't want to certify the wines.

WS 95pts

Wine Spectator

This graceful, classy red seamlessly integrates generous flavors of black cherry coulis, baked plum, star anise, candied violet and ground coffee, while its refined tannins show the limber muscularity of a gymnast. Long and lightly fleshy on the palate, with fresh focus and concentration through the creamy, spiced finish. Drink now through 2043. 666 cases made, 300 cases imported.

VM 94pts

Vinous Media

The 2023 Finca El Bosque from San Vicente de la Sonsierra is 100% Tempranillo and was aged for 18 months in new Bordeaux barrels of French oak. Clear plum and ripe cherry, with a hint of sour cherry, lead the nose, joined by forest floor, tea leaves and subtle aging tones. On the palate, it is dry and polished, with a smooth, energetic flow and finely resolved tannins. A sleek texture from the gravel soils carries through to the finish, where a faint bitter orange nuance adds lift.