XIII Lunas 2018

Bodegas Fin de Siglo presented their XIII Lunas to us as a contemporary, easy-drinking wine. We couldn’t agree more. Contemporary, due to its fruit intensity, its juiciness and that spot-on touch of sweetness, just enough to satisfy us delightfully; and easy-drinking, in fact very easy to drink: balanced, with perfectly integrated alcohol, open and honest. A modern wine but with the hallmark of its place of origin: the Rioja Alta. XIII Lunas is made from the Garnacha (63%) and Tempranillo (37%) grapes of vineyards planted in the Najerilla Valley, in the Rioja Alta sub-zone, and its provenance unequivocally pervades its character. It is a present-day Rioja, with sinew, body and structure, yet a classic at heart, very inviting, drinkable and elegant. A nod to nature is there too in its name: thirteen moons, the thirteen orbits the Moon makes around planet Earth, the thirteen lunar cycles which correspond to its twelve months of ageing in barrel. XIII Lunas appears a bright and crystal clear Picota cherry colour in the glass. On the nose it offers gentle aromas of juicy fruits, redcurrants and blackcurrants, fruit of an acidic nature, refreshing; and on the palate it comes over as a harmonious wine, with a pleasant balance achieved between sweetness, fruitiness, tannins and acidity; despite not being particularly complex, not at all detrimental in its price range, this is a complete wine, without too much oak, revealing traces of minerality and showing considerable persistence. Ideal for always having to hand at home, to open and enjoy whatever the occasion, a red with plenty of life and promising good evolution in bottle.