Familia Valdelana Reserva 2019

A wine made with 95% Tempranillo and 5% of good quality Graciano to give it a special touch that all top Reservas need. The grapes, from vines over 60 years old planted in chalky-clay soils, are vinified with the same methods the family traditionally use, passed on through the experience of the present generation's grandfather Isidoro, and his faithful respect for the land. Grapes are fermented for nine days and macerated with skins for a further twelve days to ensure the wine obtains the aromas and structure necessary for a promising future. Twenty-four months spent ageing in French and American oak round off the finished wine and embellish it with tertiary aromas. Familia Valdelana Reserva is an outstandingly pleasant wine. Its beautiful cherry colour with ruby-red glints and delicate transparency are a clear indication that this is a rounded and easy-to-drink wine. Aromas of scrubland, fine spices like nutmeg or pepper (as well as a touch of vanilla), and subtle roasted notes which come more to the front on drinking. Smooth tannins delight the cheeks, while a measured level of acidity harmonizes the wine. Aromas of lactics, tobacco leaves, and a touch of liqueur also appear, alongside a tantalizing bitterness which makes the wine very moreish. It delights with a combination of a very lively fruitiness (black plums) and the sensations it has gained from its time ageing in wood. Best enjoyed around 16ºC with red meat, stews, or hard cheeses.