Caminos de Sacramento 2020

NATURAL ABUNDANCE, FINE WINE

November and December were particularly humid, January was cold and foggy. Overall, the winter was harsh and March remained rather cool. Vigorous budbreak started in April, May was summerlike and vegetative growth was robust because the soils were still humid. As a result, flowering occurred early, towards the end of May, but with some mildew due to the high temperatures.

The vineyard remained beautiful. June was humid, July very hot with isolated storms, and, just like the bloom, veraison was early. The first half of August was similar to July but the freshening nights of late August and early September, combined with the sunny days until the harvest, helped achieve good maturity and maintain the grape’s skin firm. For example, it was 33oC during the day and 13oC at night on 25 August. Minor rains on 18 September fostered the last bit of ripening.

The harvest lasted longer than usual, from 11 September to 1 October, because we were careful to harvest each plot according to its own temporality. Unexpectedly, we even harvested the reds before the whites. The result, an exceptional vintage thanks to its full body and homogeneity within all the different plots of the vineyard.

Production Area

Own vineyard in Laguardia. Rioja Alavesa

Final Assembly

Tempranillo 93% · Graciano 7%

Elaboration

Harvest in 12kg crates with manual selection of bunches and mechanical selection of individual grapes. Plot-by-plot vinification. Malolactic fermentation in barrels, 15 months of maturation in French oak.

Colour

Bigarreau cherry red with violet tones on the rim.

Tasting Date, 24 November 2020

Nose

Without moving the glass one can appreciate aromas of red and sour fruits and a slight hint of tobacco.

The nose is full of red fruit aromas of redcurrant, blackcurrant, blackcurrant and cherry, intermixed with fine roasted notes.

Mouth

On the attack the wine is fresh with good red fruit flavours, good balance and medium weight.

On the palate, flavours of cherry, blackcurrant and plum intermingle with hints of graphite, sandalwood, coffee and elegant toasted notes from good barrel ageing.

The aftertaste is medium long and harmonious, marked by a good balance of elegant tannin, ripe fruit and fresh acidity.