The 2010 Vinea Tempranillo Crianza sees 15 months in oak barrel (60% American and 40% French) and is bottled unfiltered. It offers a generous, clean, sumptuous bouquet of dark plum, blueberry, mulberry and mocha that displays good intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft, rounded entry. There is decent weight here for a Crianza, but it never tries to be overly ambitious. Rather, it aims for the “drinkability jugular” with its soft, caressing tannins and rich, dark plum and mocha-tinged finish. This is well-crafted and epitomizes the kind of Spanish wine that gets finished to the bottom of the bottle. Drink now-2015.
Cigales is a region of mainly small, rudimentary, functional wineries without the frills, and therefore the 12 million euros invested by Baron de Ley means that their enormous facility stands out on this unpopulated landscape, looking imperiously over the Pisuerga valley. It is an enormous, modern facility with seemingly endless rows of barrels. It was their first venture beyond the confines of Rioja, having identified Cigales as a region that could offer potential value for money. Four million euros was invested in their 185 hectares of vineyards, planted with predominantly Tempranillo and 41 hectares containing vines in excess of 60 years. There is an additional 100 hectares of vines under long-term contract. Despite its size, the fruit is harvested manually and around 10% is de-selected on the sorting table. The wines are fermented in stainless steel and aged in French and American oak – 5,300 barriques in total.
Importer: Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York, NY; tel. (212) 355-0700
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