Amancio 2010

The Eguren family is an institution in the Spanish wine world.   With businesses in Rioja and Toro, their name is synonymous with prestigious wines.  The family has successfully managed that difficult balance of maintaining tradition while having to improve and evolve in order to continue to grow as a business group.

The winery is located in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, at the confluence of an Atlantic climate, coming down from the Bay of Biscay, a Mediterranean climate, coming up through the Ebro Valley, and slight continental influences from Spain's central plateau.  Due to all these influences, as well as local soils, poor in organic matter, rich in pebbles with good drainage in the subsoil, the Tempranillo shows its full potential.

Appearance

Intense garnet cherry hue. Very clean

Nose

Pronounced aromas of ripe red and black fruit along with aromas derived from good ageing: scented woods (sandalwood) and an elegant touch of lozenge-type balsamic aromas.

Palate

Full of flavour, you can appreciate the weight of the fruit and the sweet spices. The mature tannins will round out in bottle and there is a very nice acidity that adds freshness on the palate. Long finish with balsamic notes.

Comment

This wine pays tribute to the patriarch of the family and comes from one of the most iconic vineyards of San Vicente, La Veguilla.  The vines, aged between 25 and 35 years of age, cover over 15 hectares. The wine is finely crafted, the bunches are destalked by hand, traditional treading is used, and production is limited to 4,000 bottles.

This vintage is remarkable for its exceptional maturity and subtle aromatic range. This is a fine, complex and fresh wine that delights the senses. It is intriguing and meaty but  could still do with a little more time in bottle to round out its sweet tannins.

Recommended with suckling lamb roasted in a wood oven.