Heredad de Baroja Gran Reserva 2012

Heredad de Baroja Gran Reserva is nourished by the vineyards located in the centre of Rioja Alavesa, in Elvillar de Álava with a unique geographical situation, protected by the Sierra Cantabria in the north with some influence of the Ebro river microclimate. These are mostly limestone vineyards, the best and the most appropriate to provide elegance and definition to Tempranillo, with fruity intensity of a good sunshine, which characterizes these Rioja lands.

For the wine to be able to withstand two years of ageing in oak, as it corresponds to the “Gran Reserva”, it is of paramount importance to start with choosing the most mature and harmonious clusters, beginning with the vineyard and whenever it comes from a very good harvest. Made with Tempranillo, the grape was harvested by hand, cluster by cluster. Alcoholic fermentation lasted 14 days, followed by other 6 days of maceration in the deposits. During this period there was powerful tannins and colour extraction in order to withstand a long ageing, but with gentle stirring. The malolactic fermentation was made spontaneously in the same deposits, after which the wine was placed directly into the barrel for 24-month ageing in French and American oak. Since these containers are not new (between 2 and 4 years of use), the wood aromas, which could alter fruit character, are avoided. After ageing in wood, the wine was bottled with top quality cork in order to lengthen its ageing in the bottle.

In the nose it has a fine complexity smell with touches of creamy vanilla, ripe fruit and old leather. In the mouth it presents a balance of tannins and the roundness after having been matured in a bottle, with oak creaminess touches providing a soft rounded taste.