Bodegas Valdelana - Barón Ladrón de Guevara Reserva 2018
Price: $20.00
| Producer | Bodegas Valdelana |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Varietal | Tempranillo, Graciano |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Sku | 010951 ORO |
| ABV | 14.50% |
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Bodegas Valdelana is located in Elciego, known as the noble birthplace of Rioja Álavesa wines. The 150-hectare estate sits between the Ebro River and the Sierra de Cantabria mountains. This location lends itself to such delicious fruit because their chalk and clay-laden vineyards face southeast, toward the cooling Ebro, allowing for optimum sun exposure and ensures perfect ripening of the grapes, while the mountains offer protection from the gusting northerly winds. The Valdelana family has been tending these vines since the 16th century, with the current estate being founded in the late 19th century. Juan Jesús, fifteenth-generation owner and current winemaker, is one of the most innovative vignerons in all of Spain. He has worked tirelessly to transform the property, not only into a first-class Rioja estate, but also a center of learning. Juan Jesús established a museum showcasing the history of winemaking, which includes a journey through all the senses involved in wine tasting. His next project entails offering grape tastings on most international and domestic varietals. Juan's plan is to explain the characteristics of each grape and how they will translate into wine. Today, Juan Jesús' son, Juan Valdelana — the 16th generation of his esteemed winemaking family — has almost completely taken over the winemaking at Bodegas Valdelana from his father, Juan Jesús. At only 30, Juan has been hailed as one of the most promising new winemakers in all of Rioja. Remarkably, Juan began collecting uniquely special vineyard when he was just 18 years old and currently, Bodegas Valdelana boasts the most extensive Viñedos Singulares program in all of Rioja!
The Ladrón de Guevara Reserva is a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano from vines over 50 years of age. It is aged in 50% French oak and 50% Russian oak for 24 months with a further 12 months of bottle ageing. In the glass, this beautiful Rioja Reserva wine pours a deep cherry red with brilliant garnet highlights. The nose is complex and intense with notes of ripe strawberries, red cherries, licorice and Mediterranean herbs with a touch of vanilla and spice from the time spent in oak. On the palate, the wine is polished and well balanced with soft, elegant tannins and a vibrant acidity that provides a welcome refreshment to compliment the seductive intensity of rich, ripe fruit flavors. An underlying minerality permeates the wine, which combined with notes of spice and oak, add a beguiling complexity as it flows into a long, persistent finish. You can drink now or age for another 5-10 years. Enjoy with roasted or grilled lamb, chorizo or merguez sausages, or a firm, aged cheese like Manchego.
