Vinedos y Bodegas Sierra Cantabria "Finca El Bosque" 2020
(Rioja, Spain) - [WS 95] [WE 95]

About the Winery:

Founded by Guillermo Eguren, who is a self-made "bodeguero", coming from a family tradition of vine growers. Today, the fourth generation of the Eguren family, Marcos Eguren, is the winemaker and director of the winery. Sierra Cantabria has come to the forefront of Spanish wineries in the last 15 years. This is from the extreme care that they give to their vineyards, located in the best terrain of Rioja, the savoir-faire of Marcos Eguren, and his price-conscious policies. 

Vineyards are located in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, one of the most famous towns in Rioja, known for the quality of its grapes. The grapes are sourced on 267 acres (108 ha), from 1,440-1,740 ft. above sea level (480-580 m), spread among the towns of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, and Laguardia.

About the Wine:

Finca El Bosque is one of the Eguren family’ s most prized vineyard. Due to the abundance of gravel and round stones and horse plowed soils, the calcareous sandy red clay soils have excellent drainage, which allows the vines to access what little nutrition and water are available in these poor soils. As a result, the couple of large clusters that each vine naturally produces are incredibly rich in phenolic content. The result is a wine that the Eguren family believes represents the power that Rioja Tempranillo can achieve. It is the most profound, opulent wine in their portfolio, with balsamic notes, aromas of black fruit and curry. Round and incredibly balanced.

Location & Vineyard: San Vicente de la Sonsierra., Finca El Bosque.

Viticulture: Practicing organic dry farmed viticulture with certain selective biodynamic
practices. Finca el Bosque is planted on high density trellis. Manual work and harvest, with no mechanization whatsoever.

100% Tempranillo

Winemaking: Destemmed by hand, berry by berry, with a rigorous sorting of every
grape. Pre-fermentative cold maceration. The berries ferment spontaneously in 1,000L open top French oak vat. Maceration lasts 21 days. Malolactic fermentation in new Bordelaise French and Central European oak barrels.

Ageing: 18 months in new French and Central European Bordelaise oak barrels.
Racking every four months.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A graceful red, with delicate notes of violet and anise winding through flavors of black cherry and black plum reduction, a touch of cocoa powder, fig cake and mandarin orange peel. Long and supple, expanding on the palate as the generous flavors are defined by sculpted tannins. This has concentration and density without excessive weightiness, with a savory component emerging through the midpalate and finish, showing hints of iron, graphite and mountain herbs. Drink now through 2035. 415 cases made, 150 cases imported." - Alison Napjus (July 2023)

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Raspberry, butterscotch and violet aromas lead the way for black-currant, blackberry, caramel, violet, and clove flavors wrapped in subtle acidity. Rugged tannins build in volume and subside into a long-lasting finish. Drink through 2038." - Mike DeSimone (Dec 2023)