From: Rioja, Spain
Varietal: 70% Garnacha, 27% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano
Tasting Notes: The 2010 La Antigua Clasico Reserva is a vivid ruby-red. Ripe red berries, violet, and cracked pepper on the nose; a vanilla nuance emerges with aeration. Seamless in texture and appealingly sweet, offering pliant raspberry and cherry flavors and a hint of mocha. Closes smooth and fruity, with subtle tannins coming in late.
Pairing: This wine pairs well with braised meats, roasted mushrooms, stewed beef, duck, and game.
La Antigua is a unique wine coming from one of the most special and unknown territories of the Rioja region. Geographically speaking, Rioja is a valley that goes from East to West. Located to the north are the mountains of Sierra Cantabria and to the South are the unknown mountains of Sierra de La Demanda, where La Antigua vineyards are located. The northern facing vineyards of Sierra de la Demanda experience cooler temperatures resulting in grapes that are able to ripen more slowly hence showcasing flavors of greater balance and focus. In addition to the cooler conditions of this area, La Antigua is a place where the parcels are extremely small and steep. This terrain is almost impossible to mechanize, all the important vineyard work needs to be done by hand. The majority of the people who own these vineyards are local farmers who do not make wine, they only grow grapes, which in exchange they sell at top prices to the big bodegas mostly located in the north of the valley near the train tracks. In the case of La Antigua, both the vineyard work and winemaking is handled by the same people. This farm-winemaking unity is always a key factor to fashioning superior wines. Lastly and most importantly in Sierra de La Demanda we find among the oldest garnacha vines of Rioja.
91 Points -James Suckling
90 Points -Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
