Anciano No.10 Rioja Gran Reserva 2015 (Spain)

Description

Chocolate, Spice, Vanilla

“Immensely complex and seductively expressed, showing dark berry, smoked meat, star anise, dried mushroom, and toasted nut aromas on the nose. It's plush and fleshy in the mouth, offering terrific weight and silky flow, wonderfully framed by finely infused tannins, which make it robust and structured, with a persistent, delectable finish” Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

“Aged and ready with flavours of baking spices and smoked meats, plenty of oak with vanilla and cinnamon then terracotta and clay earthy highlights. Dry, firm textures with medium acid line and dusty tannins. Well made, balanced and ready to drink from day of purchase through 2028” Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

“Deep ruby in the glass, this wine offers aromas of black plum, pomegranate and black olive tapenade. Durable tannins and strong acidity play backup to black cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, orange zest and dried Mediterranean herb flavors that culminate in a lasting finish” Wine Enthusiast

“Anciano Gran Reserva No. 10 (2015) is always a crowd-pleaser. Deep ruby in the glass with ripe red berry, black cherry, olive, fine herb, dark chocolate, cinnamon spice and orange zest flavours with a touch of minerality, it finishes with good length and balanced acidity to pair with roast duck or a sausage cassoulet. An easy-to-love, medium-plus-bodied 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo Rioja red wine blend to enjoy through 2026” Natalie McLean

An incredible, mature, ready-to-drink Gran Reserva from leading producer Criadores de Rioja, owned by the famed Vivanco family, with one of the longest traditions in Rioja. The winery is situated in the Iregua Valley, below the ruins of the Castillo de Clavijo in La Rioja, near Logroño, at the heart of Rioja Alta, one of Europe’s most significant wine-growing regions. 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo.

Winemaker Azucena Hervella sources a classic blend of varieties, Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo from high altitude vineyards (300-500m) on gravel and sandy soils which are hand-harvested in late September from a selection of the oldest bush-trained, low-yielding, vines with an average age of over 50 years. Fermentation is in stainless steel tanks with the temperature controlled at 28˚C and then maceration is for around 10 days. The resulting wine is aged in America noak barrels for 36 months and then for more than 2 years in the bottle. This result is a perfect traditional style of Gran Reserva with balance of fruit and oak flavours.

Food Pairing: Outstanding with roast lamb, venison, game birds, mushroom risotto or aged Manchego.