Abeica

Rioja (Ábalos)

Colección de Viñedos Tempranillo 2022

Size

‘Coleccion’ is an assemblage of old bush vines (more than 60yo) from three parcelas, Peña Caída, Centenales y los Trepados, planted to Tempranillo with 10% each of Garnacha and Viura. These are field blends grown at just below 600m, yielding 4 tonnes/ha. Open tank fermentation of destemmed fruit, after a brief cold soak, 14 days fermentation and maceration, then malo transformation and ‘aged’ in raw concrete and 500L French oak casks for six months. Unfined. An incredible bargain!

Plums and mulberries in the cherry and blackberry fruit mix signify the presence of non-temps, most welcomely. The sense of cold, damp earth rings clear. Floral and herbal notes (think blackberry bush) join the aromatic mix, along with a delicate stony-mineral note of the earth. Tannins glove without blocking and release into fine natural acidity, with a touch of spice in the structural mix. Roses, bergamot, Russian caravan, persimmon. There’s an almost truffly sandstone earthen depth, delicate and rounded. Violets and spice linger out back in a sandstone-acid mingle, after a palate brimmed with wild bramble berries which have great ripe skin tension.