Sierra Cantabria Gran Reserva 2016

Sierra Cantabria Gran Reserva is made by the Eguren family, who have farmed vineyards in San Vicente de la Sonsierra since 1870 and built their own winery in Rioja Alta in 1957. It blends Tempranillo with Graciano from old vines, the latter adding colour, acidity and aromatic lift to Tempranillo's red fruit and structure. The Sonsierra sits on the cooler, higher reaches of Rioja, with calcareous clay soils that retain water through dry summers and help hold freshness in a wine built to age. Maturation lasts twenty-four months in American oak barrels, whose looser grain and higher vanillin content give the coconut, dill and sweet spice long associated with traditional Rioja, while slow oxygen exchange through the wood resolves tannin and carries development of leather and dried-fruit character. Long bottle ageing before release continues this softening. The colour is mature ruby with a garnet rim. The nose shows red cherry, leather, tobacco, vanilla and dried herbs. The palate is medium bodied, fine grained and savoury, with integrated tannin and a long, gently spiced finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees, with a short decant. It is a natural partner for roast lamb.