Sierra Cantabria Colección Privada 2009, Rioja
Deep ruby; medium rim. Bouquets of violets, roses, sandalwood and mint, oozing fresh and ripe dark plums and cherries reminiscent of some new wave Bordeaux using modern technics and expensive barrels. On the palate, a silky, fluid, spicy, mineral and creamy finish, which takes a detour to the Rioja terroir.
Convincing and delicate. It does not show the burning of 14,5% abv and gives fruit finishes consistently with the strength of over 12 seconds.
Slight decanting suggested.
This Privada class of Sierra Cantabria 2009 comes from 3.9 hectares of two organic vineyards that are over 50 years old, located in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. The vineyards face southeast, maximising their exposure to the sun. The soils are clay-limestone with gravel. Very careful hand harvesting of perfectly healthy and mature clusters and additional selection made in the winery using a double sorting table. Temperature controlled fermentation and extended maceration for 25 days with two pump-overs daily during the first eight days and a light pump-over every two days after that, hence it is exquisite. Sierra Cantabria Colección Privada portrays the maximum expressiveness of Tempranillo from 50+-year-old vineyards.
It undergoes ageing for 18 months in new French and American oak barrels.
Scores are impressive. Guia Penin(spanish scorer) 95, ST93, AG93, inter alia.
