Campillo Gran Reserva Rioja 2012

Tight and densely coloured, it can keep some years. The first nose is ripe red fruit, with lactic and spicy notes (nutmeg and cloves). After that, it turns complicated(fragrances, toasted, smoked, liquorice and sweet spiced, nuances of beautiful wood-like leather/leaf pencil and balsamic) in the glass. The palate reflects the nose. The first attack is silky, with good acidity and never cloying. Next, polished tannin is juicy, broad, with an excellent structure and 14.5% ABV. This bodied wine embodied both the modern(in new Allier oak, elegant, lean alcohol, silky) and classic styles(tertiary tones, red fruit profile) of Rioja.

To us, this bottle is even more elegant than it's 2009 we wrote earlier. This blend of 90 per cent Tempranillo and 10 per cent Graciano comes from a single parcel in Rioja Alavesa, 'Villa Lucia', planted at an altitude of 650 meters. Part of the Faustino Group, Bodegas Campillo is arguably the most spectacular winery on view from the ancient walls at the hilltop of Laguardia in Rioja Alavesa. In 1990, Julio Faustino Martínez fulfilled his dream of building a Riojan 'château' surrounded by vineyards. No expense spared in its construction:

• Natural stone facade

• A porch with semicircular arches

• Wood and masonry corbels

• Gothic-style stone vaults

The grapes used come from centuries-old vines with little yield, which allows a high concentration of aroma and flavours in each of the grains. The harvest is carried out with the utmost care, using small boxes not to damage the harvested grapes. Upon entering the winery, the most appropriate bunches are selected and used for winemaking. The wine then aged in new French Allier barrels for 24 months.