2011 Viñedos de Páganos 'El Puntido' Gran Reserva Rioja
The great red wines of Rioja are nothing short of majestic. Crafted primarily from Tempranillo, they elevate this native varietal to soaring heights, thanks in part to the region's traditional use of new oak barrels.
Oak and Tempranillo bring out the very best in each other; both find their highest, most ethereal and compelling expressions in Rioja. Riojas are powerful and well-structured yet elegant and refined, delicious in their youth yet age-worthy, complex yet approachable.
Grand Reserva Rioja reds must be aged for at least 5 years (a combination of oak and bottle aging) before being released into the market. The very best are aged for even longer and have all the characteristics of a well-developed wine while maintaining their vibrant, youthful energy. Case in point: today's stunning feature!
Viñedos de Páganos is located in the Rioja Alavesa sub-zone and was founded in 1998 by Marcos and Miguel Eguren. They carved out their fermentation cellar into the cold rock beneath the very depths of the El Puntido vineyard in order to produce great wines that express the intrinsic characteristics and personality determined by the union of climate, soil and varietal. El Puntido is a tenuous slope of 25 hectares oriented toward the south, planted in 1975 to Tempranillo in clay-loam soil with a subsoil of sandstone. These old vines produce ultra ripe grapes that retain the unique mineral characters of the vineyard. (importer notes)
Crafted from 100% Tempranillo aged in French oak for 28 months before bottling, the 2011 Viñedos de Páganos 'El Puntido' Gran Reserva Rioja has aromas and flavors of blackberries, cassis, and black raspberries entwined with accents of savory herbs, sweet baking spices, dark chocolate, and tobacco. The palate is medium- to full-bodied and impeccably balanced, with mid-palate depth, round tannins, and a long finish.
Check out the press!
95 points, Jeb Dunnuck:
"The 2011 El Puntido Gran Reserva comes from a slightly cooler vintage, and it too is 100% Tempranillo from the El Puntido Vineyard. It has cooler red and black fruits as well as beautiful spice, leafy herb, chocolate, and tobacco notes. Medium-bodied on the palate, I love its overall balance, mid-palate depth, and length, and it's drinking brilliantly today, with another decade or more of overall longevity."
93 points, Vinous:
"The 2011 Gran Reserva El Puntido is 100% Tempranillo sourced from a vineyard planted in 1975 in Páganos, Rioja Alavesa. Aged for 28 months in French oak barrels, this garnet wine with a brick sheen displays notes of menthol, dried figs, cedar, clove, blackberry, and cassis, with hints of licorice. Indulgent, intense and overwhelming, the rich palate lingers long with a ripe, evolved flavor. Despite its rapid evolution, the 2011 still embodies the nuanced spirit of Puntido, albeit in a riper style."
Order the 2011 Viñedos de Páganos 'El Puntido' Gran Reserva Rioja between now and Monday, September 7th, at 4 PM. Orders will be ready for pickup on Wednesday, September 9th, after 4 PM.
Alcohol by Volume (ABV %): 15%
Producer Name: Viñedos de Páganos
Old World / New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Spain
Region: Rioja Alavesa
Vintage: 2011
Grape Varietals: Tempranillo
Wine Style: Dry, medium- to full-bodied red
Pack Size: 750ml
Container Style: Glass Burgundy style bottle
Closure Style:
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