Señorío de Villarrica Rioja DOCa Crianza 2017

A family run winery dating back to the 1860s, Señorío de Villarrica is now headed by brothers Pablo, Rodolfo, Ismael and Jose Miguel, making beautiful, age-worthy Rioja from 100% tempranillo (traditionally, Rioja reds are blends of tempranillo, graciano, garnacha, and mazuelo). Their maternal grandfather Pablo was one of the first farmers to purchase a tractor in Rioja, while their paternal grandfather built a winery and made the switch from traditional wineskins to bottles so he could expand his sales. Their father Florentino built another winery, the one the brothers currently run, expanding production and focusing on quality. It was Florentino who first began bottling wines with “crianza” (two year) and “reserva” (three year) age designations. The tempranillo is first fermented in stainless steel then transferred to mixed French and American oak barrels where it spends 14 months aging. It spends at least another six months in bottle and released only when the brothers think it is ready. Once out of the bottle, this wine is powerful yet elegant, with the perfect balance of bright red fruit and oak-derived notes of vanilla and mocha. This bottle is brimming with acidity and possesses touch of grippy tannins, culminating in a refreshing finish. It is drinking beautifully today but could also age for several more years. Sustainably grown.