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Excellens Cuvée Especial
Excellens
2020
D.O.Ca Rioja
Varieties
Tempranillo
Winemakers
Fernando Costa, Emilio González and Manuel Iribarnegaray
Graduation / Service
14% vol. / 16-17º C
Aged red wine
Fine nuances
Rich intense ruby red colour.
A full bodied wine on the palate with black fruit, liquorice and a pleasant balsamic backdrop. Aged in fine, primarily French oak, revealing elegance and depth, offering outstanding distinction when tasted. This wine fully represents the essence of carefully selected Tempranillo grapes from vineyards of varying altitude and exposure, resulting in a balanced, full-bodied and lively wine of ripe red fruit.
On the finish it impresses with hints of spices, clove and black pepper. With its volume, delicious fruit and luscious tanni
2020 Vintage
Mild and humid year. Early budding thanks to humidity and mild temperatures in spring. Hard summer with strong heat and drought, alleviated by occasional storms. Dry, healthy vegetative periods, leading to optimum ripening. Slow and gradual harvest, thanks to incredibly good weather and no storms. A great vintage.
Soils
The soils are determined by the complex orography of the area, from vineyards on quaternary terraces of fluvial bedding to steep slopes of tertiary origin.
Vineyards and Yields
Selection of plots of old vines over 30 years old from Rioja Alta. Very low yields.
Harvest
Plot by plot, entirely by hand. Harvesting takes place as ripening is completed, which makes it necessary to go over several times in vineyards of different heights or exposures.
Vinification
Gently destemmed bunches. Alcoholic fermentation and long skin maceration in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Some malo-lactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks and the majority in new barrels.
Total time in barrel
14 months in new barrels and medium toasted French and American oak barrels, providing a smooth complexity and tasty tannins.
Ageing in bottle
12 months minimum before the launch date.
workspace_premium Awards
2020
Peñín Guide 2025 90 points
2019
Peñín Guide 2024 92 points
The Rioja Masters 2023 Gold medal
2018
Gourmets Guide 2023 94 points
Proensa Guide 2023 92 points
James Suckling 2022 91 points
2017
Gourmets Guide 2021 94 points
Proensa Guide 2021 93 points
James Suckling 2021 91 points
Tim Atkin Rioja Special Report 2021 91 points
2016
Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge 2020 Gold medal
Cinve 2020 Gold medal
Wine Spectator 2020 92 points
Tim Atkin Rioja Special Report 2020 91 points
2015
James Suckling Report 2019 91 points
Shanghai Wine Awards 2019 Gold medal
Tim Atkin Rioja Special Report 2019 91 points
Rioja Masters 2018 Gold medal
ABC Guide 2019 92 points
Gilbert & Gaillard 2019 92 points
Gourmets Guide 2020 93 points
Proensa Guide 2020 92 points
2014
Gourmets Guide 2019 92 points
ABC Guide 2018 92 points
Proensa Guide 2019 92 points
Mundial de Tempranillos 2017 Gold medal
Repsol Guide 2017 91 points
2013
Proensa Guide 2017 93 points
REPSOL Guide 2017 91 points
Special Report Tim Atkin Rioja 2017 91 points
Gourmets Guide 2018 90 points
Restauradores 2017 92 points
2012
Cinve 2016 Gold medal
Wine Spectator 2016 93 points
Gourmets Guide 2016 94 points
ABC Guide 2017 92 points
Proensa Guide 2016 90 points
El País Guide 2016 90 points
