Bodegas Eguíluz 'Las Preferidas' Rioja DOCa 2021

Father and son, Javier and Israel Eguíluz, grow grapes in the clay-limestone soils of the Cantabrian foothills. Their ‘Las Preferidas’ cuvée comes from old-vine, higher-altitude parcels of tempranillo (with dashes of viura, garnacha, and calagraño). Only the best bunches (“las preferidas”) are selected for whole-cluster fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Fermented in cement tanks, the wine then ages for nine months in large, used French barrels before bottling without fining and only light filtration. Rich, dark blue and black berries mix with an earthy smokiness, before a subtle, lingering finish. Organically grown, biodynamically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.