San Vicente

This special, single variety, single vineyard wine is made from 100% Tempranillo Peludo grapes (hairy on the underside of the leaf), native to the Rioja Sonsierra district but nearly extinct due to low production generally. The Finca La Canoca vineyard is ideally sited for producing high quality fruit, enjoying an Atlantic climate with some continental influences and calcareous-clay soils. The vines are planted densely on trellises and treated with organic fertilizers. Only fully-ripe, healthy clusters are hand-picked at harvest, while on the sorting table a double selection procedure then ensures just the choicest berries pass through. Considerable attention is paid to pumping over during fermentation, occurring twice daily, and when undergoing maceration on the skins. Malolactic fermentation takes place in French oak barrels, followed by ageing for 20 months in new French Bordelaise (90%) and American (10%) oak barrels. Bottled in July 2008, the wine was allowed to rest for a year before release. This is an elegant, flavoursome wine with an excellent structure; powerful, rounded and well-balanced.