Reserva Especial

Atlantic, temperate type, with differentiated seasons. The year 2017 was a slightly warm year, with temperatures between 1.5 and 2ºC above the historical average. In the early morning of April 28, we suffered a heavy frost that greatly affected the budded vines, greatly reducing the amount of harvest for the vintage. This adversity, together with lower than average rainfall, resulted in a vintage with extraordinarily low yields.

Fundamentally clayey-calcareous. Plots in Rioja Alta with ferrous subsoil.

Selection of old vines from Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa. Low yields, less than 5,000 kg/ha.

Totally hand-picked in 15 kg boxes, parcel by parcel. The effect of the frost forced a second sprouting, which made the harvest very complicated in order to separate the ripe clusters from the unripe ones. We are very happy with this hard selection work done both in the field and in the winery.

Bunches destemmed with the utmost care. Alcoholic fermentation at controlled temperature. Prolonged maceration with the skins in order to extract more color, aromas and tannic structure. Malo- lactic fermentation in oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Once the malo-lactic fermentation is complete, all the wines are transferred to fine grain French oak barrels. Subsequent racking every 6 months.

Around 21 months in French oak barrels, divided equally between new barrels and barrels one and two years old.

2 years minimum before the date of commercialization.