The 2006 El Puntido Gran Reserva is pure Tempranillo grapes from the Puntido vineyard that are selected from the eastern-most part of the vineyard close to Laguardia, which is more exposed to the north winds and gives a wine of marked tannins that needs more time in barrel and is ideal to create a Gran Reserva. This wine ages for 24-26 months in barrel and is kept in bottle for a further five years. The 2006 is still dark ruby-colored, with an open and expressive nose of leather, cold bonfire, incense and steak tartar notes and a medium-bodied palate with some gritty tannins and very pure flavors where the leather and meaty notes linger in the aftertaste. This is the most classical wine I’ve ever seen from the Eguren family, and an exceptional effort for the 2006 vintage. Modernity meets tradition! Drink now-2022. Vinedos de Paganos is a small winery belonging to the Eguren family in the Alavesa part of Rioja, in the village of Paganos, Laguardia, where they had family vineyards. They built a small winery excavating new caves, some of them underneath the vineyards. They produce two single vineyard wines there, El Puntido and La Nieta, but the news is that since 2005 there are two version of El Puntido as in that vintage they started producing a Gran Reserva versions of it. Did I mention that tradition and modernity seem to be converging? Imported by Fine Estates from Spain, Dedham, MA; tel. (781) 461-5767

This rich red delivers a mouthful of black currant fruit, with strong notes of espresso, tar and mineral. Full-bodied, backed by muscular tannins and balsamic acidity. A modern style. Drink now through 2026. 500 cases made.??–TM??Region: Spain / Rioja Select to Add