BodegasdelaMarquesa,Valserrano“ElRibazo”,2018

Complex, lively and mineral Rioja Alavesa

Aromas of liquorice, cassis and cherries appear, with underlying, persistent lactic nuances. When swirled, more intense hints of blueberries and redcurrants can be found with ginger nuances coming through and reminders of toasted notes of toffee and vanilla and faint spicy tones. Lively on the palate , with hints of minerals and a long, flavoursome aftertaste.

• Tim Atkin 94/100
• 100% Tempranillo
• 24 months in 5,000 litre French and American oak casks

Cellaring: Drink now to 2030

Food Pairing: Rich, high-fat meats like roasted pork, chorizo sausage, or just about any lamb dish pair beautifully.

STORY BEHIND THE WINE

From one of the top-10 traditional Rioja producers (Tim Atkin MW), this family run estate had 5 generations making wine for over 100 years. The average age of the vines is 30 years old. EL RIBAZO is an 11-hectare vineyard situated to the west and very close to the center of the village of Villabuena. It is made up of a number of adjacent plots which were planted between 1985 and 1988 with different varieties. For this wine, a particular plot of 5.5 hectares of Tempranillo was used, the first to be planted and one that guarantees the highest quality every year. The composition of the soil, its orientation and the age of the vines endow the wine with a distinctive character and make it ideal for obtaining vintages of high quality!