Ontanon Reserva Rioja Red Blend Tempranillo Graciano

Maceration: long maceration with controlled temperature between 21-27 degrees celsius. Aging time: 24 months in american & french oak barrel (used & new) and at least 24-26 months in bottle prior to release. Harvest 2005-excellente: 2005 was rated excellent by the consejo regulador (control board) of rioja. Harvest began in isolated parcels of our vineyard land in the easternmost part of rioja baja during the beginning of september but slowed down over the remaining weeks as moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights pervaded leaving the grapes in an extended excellent state of health. By september 17th after an additional few weeks of hang-time that allowed for a slower sugar formation and better phenolic ripeness the majority of fruit in our vineyard land was of optimum maturity. Tasting notes: this wine is a dark and inky red with an intense nose. Smokey notes frame a core of plum and cherry with accents of tobacco minerals and earth. Maturing gracefully t