2019 Rioja Tabuerniga

The 2019 Tabuerniga comes from a dry year with low yields that resulted in good ripeness and healthy grapes. Tabuérniga and Las Beatas were two of the few vineyards not affected by the frost on May 6th. The Graciano ripened at the same time as the Tempranillo and both varieties were harvested together the 14th of October. It fermented in 3,000-liter open-top oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in 1,500-liter oak vats for 14 to 16 months. The wine has 14% alcohol and a pH of 3.69. I found the wine to be superb, serious, austere and a little closed, a bit reductive even (which winemaker Pablo Eguzkiza told me could be because of the higher percentage of Graciano in this vineyard), in a style that I love. I've always had a soft spot for this wine, and this vintage is no exception; I found it superb, elegant and subtle, textured and refined with gobsmacking balance and depth. Simply superb. 2,019 bottles were filled in May 2021.