2018 Miguel Merino Gran Reserva Rioja (1.5L bottle)

Notes

The Miguel Merino Gran Reserva is sourced from some of their very best sites. Old vineyards that were planted in the 1950s and 1960s. And importantly planted in some of the highest hills surrounding the village of Briones with steeper slopes with limestone rich clay soils. The wine is principally Tempranillo but there is a small amount of Graciano. Fermentation occurs in stainless steel with native yeasts, Malolactic occurs in barrel. After fermentation wine is aged for two years in new French oak, afterwards it is moved into used barrels for an additional year. It is bottled then aged for an additional two years in bottle before release. Miguel Merino liked to call the style of this wine an “updated classic”. This has the classic power and intensity that the style calls for, but it is updated with a fresher, more youthful fruit component as well and a different range of spice flavors that comes from not using American oak. This has the elegance that we expect from the bodega backed with this intensity and complexity that make this a special occasion wine. Drink tonight, with some decanting, or put it in the cellar and enjoy over the next 10-15+ years.