Amancio 2020

Amancio, named after the founder of the Eguren family dynasty, is a modern-style, single vineyard wine that achieves the objective of extracting maximum expression from the Tempranillo grape. Included in a special collection produced at their newly constructed winery, Viñedos Sierra Cantabria, it epitomises the new classic, combining potent fruit and expression of vine origin with the elegance and freshness of a traditional Rioja wine. Amancio wines originate from the La Veguilla vineyard in the district of San Vicente de la Sonsierra. The Tempranillo vines, aged between 20-35 years old, catch the morning sun on a slope facing south-east, sheltered from harsh elements by the Sierra Cantabria mountains. Due to an extremely rigorous selection process at harvest, only clusters in perfect condition are hand-picked. Destemming with further sorting is carried out manually, before fermentation in 500-litre French oak barrels and in a couple of 1,000-litre capacity French oak tanks, with pressing by foot carried out twice daily. Effectively, this wine undergoes a ‘200% new barrel’ treatment, with both malolactic fermentation and 24 months of ageing in different new French oak Bordelaise barrels. Deep cherry-red in colour, the nose is full of character and complexity, with aromas of ripe dark fruit and spicy notes. On the palate, this wine is powerful and flavoursome with rounded tannins and a lingering finish - simply outstanding and consistently very highly rated.