About this WINE
Bodegas F. Remirez de Ganuza
Bodegas F. Remírez de Ganuza is situated in the middle of the lovely village of Samaniego in the Rioja wine region. The splendid country mansion consists of a block of buildings and is equipped with modern reinforced concrete structures faced with masonary stone blocks which are between two and three hundred years old.
This block encloses a spacious, quiet yard, crossed by a canal of running water, which as well as making the place feel cool, ensures the water supply in the event of problems with the local mains supply. The inner roof is made of hundred year old oak beams and the solid wood doors are the only concession to tradition in one of the most ultra-modern wineries in the whole of Spain.
Fernándo Remírez de Ganuza is one of the big characters in Rioja. A former Rioja wine broker, he set up his eponymous bodega in 1989, using his contacts and knowledge to invest in 70 hectares of the best possible vineyards in the Rioja Alavesa: Samaniego, Leza, Elciego and Laguardia. In Remirez de Ganuza, they work with fifty hectares of Tempranillo (90%) and Graciano (10%) situated in truly privileged enclaves of the Alaves vineyards. His philosophy inclines towards modernism with 80% French and 20% American oak, all new, used to age his wines, which are now justly celebrated throughout the world.
Two range of wines are produced: The flagship wine is the Remírez de Ganuza Rioja Reserva with a yellow label (highly acclaimed in the US market), and another Rioja Reserva, but distinguished from the estate's top wine by the Fincas de Ganuza designation (red and yellow label).
The vine stocks have an average age of sixty, with the youngest being thirty years old and oldest, ninety-six, an ideal average for making a wine with "breeding". The skill and exprience of Remirez de Ganuza in growing practises has allowed him to consolidate one of the basic pillars of the Bodega: sourcing the grape supply. Only the best grapes for the best wine.His philosophy inclines towards modernism with 80% French and 20% American oak, all new, used to age his wines, which are now justly celebrated throughout the world.
Tempranillo/Tinto Fino
A high quality red wine grape that is grown all over Spain except in the hot South - it is known as Tinto Fino in Ribera del Duero, Cencibel in La Mancha and Valdepenas and Ull de Llebre in Catalonia. Its spiritual home is in Rioja and Navarra where it constitutes around 70% of most red blends.
Tempranillo-based wines tend to have a spicy, herbal, tobacco-like character accompanied by ripe strawberry and red cherry fruits. It produces fresh, vibrantly fruit driven "jovenes" meant for drinking young. However Tempranillo really comes into its own when oak aged, as with the top Riojas where its flavours seem to harmonise perfectly with both French and American oak, producing rich, powerful and concentrated wines which can be extraordinarily long-lived.
In Ribera del Duero it generally sees less oak - the exception being Vega Sicilia where it is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and then aged for an astonishing 7 years in oak and is unquestionably one of the world`s greatest wines.
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Description
This really is an excellent example of Rioja; full of tension, energy and exuberance. This is testament to the quality of the 50-year-old vines, not to mention the extraordinary sorting tables. The blend is classic, namely 90 percent Tempranilo and 10 percent Graciano. The wine has been aged for 22 months in new barrels (80 percent American and 20 percent French). Savoury, with hints of Bovril, black cherry and eucalypt, this is a perfect partner for fat soaked dishes.
Simon Field MW – Wine Buyer
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