2018 Finca El Palacio, DOCa Rioja Alavese, Bodegas Luis Cañas (4x75cl)

In 1970 Luis Cañas changed two hundred years of tradition and became the first winemaker in Rioja Alavesa to bottle his young wine rather than sell it as bulk.  This bold move, and his continued pioneering spirit, has cemented the winery’s enviable reputation as one of the most progressive in the region.

The Tempranillo, Graciano and Viura grapes (a field blend from a single plot) come from a single plot in Villabuena, in front of the cellar.

The harvested grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled French oak casks and macerated to extract their full potential. The resulting wine is then passed to French oak barrels where it undergoes malolactic fermentation to give it complexity and aromatic intensity while stabilising its colour. The wine is aged for about 10 months in new 500L French oak barrels from a selection of several top French coopers.

A lovely dark plum red colour, the ripe concentrated fruit aromas have a mineral touch, spice and notes of forest fruit preserve wrapped in tones of butterscotch. Concentrated and buttery, well-balanced with fine tannins and well balanced acidity. A long and expressive finish leaving a clear impresson of the mineral character of the terroir.

A stunning example of the modern style of Rioja that is emerging from this celebrated region.