"90 Points. Third vintage release of the affordable Calo tempranillo and it’s another goodun’. Value plus. It probably needs another 6-12 months in bottle but it’s bonza drinking once again. Glossy vanilla and bueberry. Soft. Has a bit of tannin to it. A bit of chew. Smoky, bacony, chicory length. Bloody good drinking. Gorgeously medium-weight and food friendly." - Campbell Mattinson, Wine Front.
Rioja Alavesa, in the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains, is the finest sub-region of Rioja. A patchwork of small vineyards are planted in very poor, sandy soils on the lower slopes. The very low yields, along with the cooler night temperatures, creates wines with intensity matched by elegance and defined structures.
Totally de-stemmed before a long, cool maceration and fermentation with daily pump overs to achieve optimum colour and tannin extraction. Malolactic fermentaion is conducted in stainless steel tanks and the wine is racked twice before going into oak barrels. Maturation in primarily new French and American 225 litre oak barrels for four months.
A bright and expressive example of Rioja, beginning with a vivid red colour with violet highlights. Aromas of red fruit and dark cherries meld with liquorice and a touch of vanilla. The palate is rich and full bodied with classic blackcurrant fruit and cherry cola fruit flavours balanced by earthy complexity and varietal dry, chalky tannins.
