2016 Altos R Pigeage Rioja DOC

Brand	Altos de Rioja
Region	Rioja
Varietal	Tempranillo
Size	750ml
Alcohol %	14.5%
Vintage	2016
Country	Spain

Champion Spanish Wine and Double Gold Medal China Wine & Spirits Awards from an incredible lineup...2016 Altos R Pigeage is “Dressed to Impress” in a stunning bottle and in wooden 6-packs. It is a silky, voluptuous blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano grapes (permitted grapes of the Rioja DOC appellation) from Rioja Alavesa, the smallest and most elevated sub-region of Rioja. The grapes are handpicked from 50 year-old vines located in the foothills of Sierra Cantabria, and fastidiously sorted by hand in the winery prior to pressing to ensure only the finest grapes make the cut. Once fermentation starts ‘pigeage’ is manually performed three times a day. This is the process of ‘punching down’ the cap of the grape (skin, stem and seeds), ensuring quality extraction of colour, flavour and tannin. Post fermentation, the wine is transferred to new French (85%) and American (15%) oak barrels undergoing malolactic fermentation and élevage (ageing in barrel) for 15 months.

A sweetly fruited nose of Christmas cake, liquorice, black cherry, vanilla, leather and warm earth, cinnamon and cola – very seductive aromatically.

Silky and luxurious on the palate, it falls into the lavish, pure and modern style of Rioja, laced with dark chocolate, black cherry, plum and delicious cured meats. Hints of fruit cake, spices, vanilla and liquorice emerge in the mid-rear palate of this seductively luxurious Rioja. The tannins are well integrated and provide abundant support for the powerful fruit. Immensely enjoyable now and hard to put your glass down... but it will evolve beautifully through 2025+. Savour with BBQ lamb cutlets, red meat cuts or tasty roast vegetable dishes.