MARQUES DE RISCAL Rioja Reserva, Marqués de Riscal 2006 Grape Varieties 90% Tempranillo 10% Graciano Food Matching Note: This wine pairs well with ham, mild cheeses, casseroles which are not too spicy, pulse dishes, poultry, red meat, grilled and roast meat. Tasting Note: Dark cherry colour with good depth. Balsamic aromas with hints of ripe fruit. The attack is fresh and light, with soft, rounded tannins. Spicy and complex, the finish is persistent with subtle toasted oak character. Elegant, fresh and easy to drink. Grape: Made from 90% Tempranillo from 15 year old vines with 10% of Mazuelo and Graciano. Location: From Elciego and its surrounding villages in the Rioja region which lies in north-east Spain. Flavour: On the nose, balsamic, cherries and spice. A fresh attack commands this toasty, fruity, complex Rioja. Combined: A fresh attack is followed by plenty of spice, fruit and a soft, toasty finish. Marques de Riscal, founded in 1858, certainly know what they're doing. Vinification Note: Marqués de Riscal Reserva wines are predominantly made from grapes from Tempranillo vines over 15 years of age, grown in the best clay-limestone soils of the Rioja Alavesa. This variety withstands oak- and bottle ageing well thanks to its good balance of acidity and fine tannin. The Graciano and Mazuelo varieties, whose presence in the blend does not exceed 10%, provide crispness and a lively colour. Fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature of 26ºC and the maceration time is never more than 12 days. Riscal Reservas spend around two years in American-oak casks, producing a wine which corresponds to the classic Rioja style: fresh, fine, elegant and very suitable for laying down for many years. Before release for sale it spends a minimum of one year rounding off in the bottle. Find this wine at www.winestore.co.uk Price: £18.11 (Including VAT at 20%)