Sierra Cantabria Gran Reserva

D.O.Ca. Rioja

San Vicente de la Sonsierra.

98% Tempranillo, 2% Graciano

Estate owned vineyards surrounding the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, sandwiched between the foothills of the Sierra Cantabria mountain range and the Ebro River.

1950-1970

Practicing organic dry farmed viticulture with certain selective biodynamic practices. Vineyards trained as spur-pruned goblet vines as well as high density trellises. Manual work and harvest, with no mechanization whatsoever.

Calcareous clay soils that are typical to the Sonsierra Riojana. Limestone rich clay soils that are sandwiched between large slabs of lime-sandstone mother rock.

Continental with heavy Atlantic influences that are moderated by the Sierra Cantabria.

The grapes undergo rigorous double-manual sorting, both before and after destemming. 100% of the clusters are destemmed, but not crushed. Temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel (inoculated) with indigenous yeast that have been selected from their vineyard and cellar. Maceration lasts 20-30 days. Malolactic fermentation in barrel.

26 months in American oak barrels. 25% new oak, 75% maximum of three vintage old barrels. Racked every four months.

Sierra Cantabria Gran Reserva is the pinnacle of the Eguren family's classical Rioja lineup of ageing-classified wines from their estate vineyards in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. While the family is most well known for their single cru classified bottlings, they produce outstanding ageing classified wines from their estate vineyards in San Vicente. Their Gran Reserva combines all of the secondary and tertiary complexity of an classic Gran Reserva combined with the structure and fruit that the Eguren family are known for - the result of meticulously grown grapes from family controlled estate vineyards in Rioja's top terroir.