Marques de Riscal 2016 Baron de Chirel, Rioja Reserva

Baron de Chirel wine first appeared in 1986 as the result of experimental production using a selection of grapes from very old vines, between 80 and 110 years old, with a very low yield and high quality. From the results of these trials would appear what we could say was the precursor of the “new era” of Rioja wines.

This wine is produced on a very limited scale and only in the best vintage years, in which the character of the vineyard, the soil and the variety are expressed as part of a single, harmonious whole. This 2016 is the most current vintage of Baron De Chirel, it's 65% Tempranillo, the other 35% is a mix of old vine indigenous grapes. The grapes come from the area of Elciego, from the vineyard plots of Garcimoracho, Tapias, San Pelayo, Vialva and La Collada. The altitude of these vines ranges from 450 m to 550 m. above sea level. Soils from chalky clay areas and gravelly terraces of the river Ebro with limestone bedrock.

Yields are very low and grapes are harvested by hand. After careful selection of the grapes, (since 1995 this has been done grape by grape on sorting tables), they proceed to pressing and vinification. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in French Allier oak vats at 79F, each vineyard separately. The wine is transferred to French Allier oak barrels for aging over a period of 22 months. Then, after barrel-aging and once bottled, the wine remains for a minimum period of 20 months in the bottle before release.

This wine received a 97 Point Platinum Award in the Decanter World Wine Awards. They said "Fascinating savory, tomato leaf and red fruit nose. Rich, voluptuous, very concentrated, with plenty of graphite and concentrated black fruit. Showy, very wooded but in the modern style with abundant primary fruit. A real masterpiece of control."