Marqués de Vargas Reserva 2020

Marqués de Vargas, founded in 1989, produces this Reserva from its own Padrolagar estate in the Ebro Valley near Logroño in Rioja. The blend draws on Tempranillo with Garnacha and Mazuelo from vines around 30 years old, harvested by hand into 15 kilo crates from the second week of September. The estate soils and a continental climate moderated by the river give ripe fruit with retained acidity, and the older vines keep yields low and the fruit concentrated. After a fermentation of about twelve days, the wine ages 23 months in French and American oak. The long barrel ageing allows gentle oxygen exchange that softens the tannins and develops tertiary tobacco, leather and clove alongside vanilla and toast from the wood. It pours a deep cherry red with garnet edges. The nose is fresh and ripe, with red and dark berry fruit, sweet spice and a delicate savoury edge. The palate is harmonious and medium to full bodied, with fine grained tannins, balanced acidity and a long, spiced finish in the classic Rioja Reserva mould. Serve at 17 degrees, decanting briefly. It is a natural match for roast lamb.