San Vicente Rioja Tempranillo 2016

Rioja is the jewel in the crown of Spanish wine and Señorio de San Vicente, this spectacular, 99-point-worthy tempranillo, is the jewel in the crown of the Eguren empire that has been owned and run by the family since 1870. From a single vineyard, the fruit is meticulously picked and sorted. Once it’s in the winery, it’s fermented in oak vats, and then the wine is transferred to 90% French and 10% American oak barrels - all new. Spending 20 months in barrel, the fruit soaks up all that new oak, easily reaching full integration and balance. 

The nose is all coffee and mocha notes, with cedary cigar box. Scorched earth and Moroccan spices peak through. There’s a lot going on with dark fruits, cinnamon sticks and dried lavender adding a lifted floral element. The palate is bold and voluptuous, gorgeously textured - dark fruits pull it all together, with grilled nuts and well-balanced tannins adding to the lengthy finish. There are decades ahead of this wine. It’s certainly built for going the distance.