Macán Clásico 2022

Macán Clásico is made in Rioja Alavesa by the joint venture between Benjamin de Rothschild and Vega Sicilia, at a site known as San Millán near Samaniego. This is Rioja's higher, cooler western shoulder, where chalky clay soils and altitude lengthen the growing season and hold acidity in the predominantly Tempranillo fruit, with a small share of Garnacha. The 2022 came from an early harvest and was the first vintage fermented entirely with indigenous yeasts, which lends a more site-specific aromatic profile than commercial strains tend to give. Ageing runs twelve months in a mix of French and American oak, so the wine gathers vanilla and sweet spice from the French barrels and a rounder, dill-tinged warmth from the American, while the wood lets in enough oxygen to soften the tannins. The colour is deep ruby. The nose leads with red and black cherry, plum and dried tobacco, backed by leather and a hint of earth. On the palate it is medium to full bodied, with fine grained tannin and a long savoury finish. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees, ideally decanted an hour ahead, alongside roast lamb or aged Manchego.