Description
La Rioja Alta Aster Crianza 2013(RP90)
THE HARVEST
After a mild winter, the spring was affected by heavy rains and thecoldest average temperatures in the last nine years. This was followedby a hot, dry summer, with marked day/night temperature differences in September (highs above 28-30 °C and lows under 10 °C); ideal conditions for optimum grape ripening. The wines from our vineyards showed good intensity and great fruit expression, dominated this year by red fruit and spices and a good balance between acidity and alcohol content.
THE VINEYARD AND THE GRAPES
100% Tinta del País from the estate-owned Fuentecojo, Otero, Joven and La Cueva vineyards surrounding our winery in Anguix, Burgos. They are planted on silt loam soils located at an altitude close to 780 meters above sea level.
WINEMAKING AND AGEING
We took advantage of cool morning temperatures to manually pick the grapes and carefully take them to the winery, where they were painstakingly inspected at the sorting table. After gentle destemming and crushing, the grapes were placed in tanks where they underwent alcoholic fermentation at a temperature below 28 °C. After 16 days of fermentation and maceration, 80% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels, with weekly bâttonages for two months. The wine was aged for 22 months in French oak barrels, 70% in new wood and the rest in barrels with two wines. We racked this wine three times employing traditional methods and bottled it in March 2016.
TASTING NOTES
Bright cherry-red, with medium-high depth and a garnet-red
background. The nose discloses a wide aromatic range and strong intensity. Ripe red fruit, mild aromas of underbrush and a spicy background, with hints of fine wood, cedar, balsam, coffee and liquorice. In the mouth, the power and balance of Ribera del Duero appears together with pleasant, tamed, well-rounded tannins. With a broad aftertaste, the new Áster Crianza vintage will become more rounded in the bottle over time. We particularly recommend it to enjoy with charbroiled meat, large game, lamb and cured cheese.
Origin:Ribera del Duero, Spain
Type:Red Wine
Grapes:100% Tempranillo
Alcohol:14 %
Bottle Size:750ml