Finca Allende Aurus, Rioja DOCa, Spain

阿連德酒莊奧洛斯紅葡萄酒

點擊次數(shù)：8381

The 2007 Aurus is made up of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Graciano from vines over 50 years of age. It was aged in French oak for 24 months before bottling without filtration. It is a glass-coating opaque purple color with a superb bouquet of pain grille, pencil lead, lavender, exotic spices, espresso, licorice, and brooding black fruits. Dense, layered, and powerful, this precision balanced red manages to maintain a sense of elegance through its lengthy, fruit-filled finish. It lacks the multi-dimensionality of the great vintages but is a very fine effort in a more challenging year.Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates From Spain, Dedham, MA; Tel. (781) 461-5767

The 2007 Aurus has a very sweet, candied, coconut-tinged nose where the new oak is too conspicuous. The palate is soft, fleshy and rounded with mouth-coating tannins, although it does not translate its terroir on the finish at this moment. There is patently a smorgasbord of fruit here, but I feel the oak needs to fully integrate. Drink 2016-2026. I am heading towards Miguel Angel de Gregorio’s winery in the village of Briones and conversing in English since my Spanish is not exactly “fluent.” We are discussing this morning’s forthcoming tasting and Miguel enquires how many wines I would like to taste? “Well. How many wines do you have?” I reply. “Sixteen,” he answers and given that, for once, I am not as pressed for time, I nonchalantly promise to taste them all. Miguel practically jumps out of his seat with excitement. He cannot believe it. It is only when I enter his tasting room and survey a never-ending line of bottles that I realize that he actually meant sixty. But hey, this is my first visit, and what could be a better introduction to one of Rioja’s most celebrated and occasionally recalcitrant winemakers by tasting every single wine the estate has ever released (including Finca Nueva, which is listed separately)? Unfortunately, space limitations in the print edition of The Wine Advocate would not allow for all sixty reviews to appear in print, but they are all available on www.eRobertParker.com. “Martires” is sourced from old Viura vines planted in 1970 and usually sees aging in new French oak and regular batonnage. Again, the wines appear to have the balance and substance to age with style, often developing almost Rhone-like honeyed and beeswax aromas. Most of these wines will repay ten years cellaring. As for the red wines, I will be honest and say that not every vintage hit the bull’s eye, but that is a trait I admire, a wine that follows and reflects the vicissitudes of the growing season rather than foolishly trying to smother them out. With respect to the Allende (Tinto), the 2001 formed the highlight, though I suspect it will be surpassed by the 2009 in the future. The optimal drinking age appears to be around a decade, although there is no doubt that the best vintages have a longer evolutionary cycle. The Calvario vineyard was planted in 1945: a two-hectare, southeast facing parcel on reddish, ferrous clay soil with gravel and stone. It is cultivated with Tempranillo, plus 8% Garnacha and 2% Graciano. The wine is raised entirely in French Allier barriques of which 30% are new each year. Importer: Jorge Ordonez, Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767.

(Rioja Alta) Liquorice, minerals, leather, wax polish and redcurrant bouquet. Spicy, savoury fruit palate with fresh acidity, big tannins and fine structure. It has real presence. Drink from 2012. Alc: 14%. (15.5 points)

Aurus defines awesome modern Rioja. The nose is floral and decked out with wild berry aromas, marzipan, vanilla and hard spices. The palate is powerful and tannic, with bold cassis, raspberry, cherry, coffee and chocolate flavors. Beautifully crafted and with a nice red fruit element courtesy of 15% Graciano to go with old vines Tempranillo. Drink from 2012–2021. ——M.S.(4/1/2011)—— 94