La Legua Reserva, Cigales, Spain

勒瓜酒莊珍藏紅葡萄酒

點(diǎn)擊次數(shù)：2345

The 2009 La Legua Reserva is seasoned with 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and, like the Crianza, 40% undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrel before spending 20 months in American (40%) and French (60%) oak – new, one- and two-year old. It has a similar aromatic profile to the Crianza, but with a little more intensity and volume: pure, floral dark cherry and violet scents with (again) that marine leitmotif adding another dimension. The palate is very well-balanced, smooth and inviting, but showing more structure than the Crianza on the second half. It remains a feminine Cigales red, perhaps not a long-term wine as it dips towards the finish. Nevertheless, it is certainly well-crafted and represents good value. Drink now-2018. While I am accustomed to music being piped into barrel cellars to “calm” the wines during their maturation, my visit to Bodegas La Legua marked the first occasion where the music was “l(fā)ive.” One hopes that the guitarist, strumming away on his electric guitar on his portable amp, is allowed out for air once in a while. In the 1970s, Bodegas La Legua was the first winery in Cigales to plant red varieties only, and to this day they are one of the few to eschew rose. Proprietor and neurologist Emeterio Fernandez owns 80 hectares of vine around the winery, which is sub-divided into six-hectare parcels. The average age of vine is 35 years, and they produce around 250,000 bottles per year. For those that have never tasted Cigales wine before, La Legua offer a perfect, affordable introduction to its delights with a superb portfolio that I found beautifully crafted, natural and refined. Importer: Steve Berardi, Denver, CO; (303) 329-3180; and Berry Brother & Rudd (UK).