Luis Cañas Gran Reserva 2016

A “gran reserva”, as its name indicates, is the wine that has to challenge oak intensity. A wine with tannic structure, acidity and body, capable of withstanding a long wood ageing, that is to say, “to be reserved” for more than two years in the barrel without it dominating the wine. It is the concept of the Rioja widely known classical wine, which Luis Cañas desired to be added to their catalogue as the homage to tradition from modernity. For this purpose he selected the wineyards which oscillate around 50 years old, with a low grape stock production, located in Villabuena, Samaniego, Leza, Navaridas and Baños of Ebro.

It is made with 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano, selected by hand, cluster by cluster, and harvested in small boxes at their optimum maturity. Later, they were taken to the selection tables to choose the most mature and smooth clusters to be vinified in small tanks at controlled temperature, with a greater tannic and colour extraction in order to be able to withstand longer ageing. The produced wine was poured into new French and American oak barrels, where it performed malolactic fermentation. This wine was aged in new 70% French and 30% American oak barrels for 24 months. It is worth noting that the usage of new barrels is not common for a Gran Reserva creation. However, the balance between oak contribution and the wine structure has allowed an excellent association between the ageing spicy features with a certain wood notes, with fine reduction nuances (leather and tobacco), with varietal mature black fruit. The time has allowed tannins to be become rounded, with a fatty touch, with volume and persistence in the mouth.