Finca Nueva Tempranillo Crianza 2015
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Wine Specs
Vintage
2015
Varietal
Tempranillo
Appellation
Calatayud, Spain
Acid
5.50 g/L
pH
3.53
Aging
Fermented and aged in French oak barrels
Alcohol %
13.5
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Bright red cherry in color with soft and elegant aromas found on the nose,
including cassis, Bing cherry, mixed-berry jam, milk chocolate and sweet spice.
On the palate, the wine mimics the nose and is well-balanced with perfectly
integrated tannins and a nice finish.
Vineyard Notes
Located 2.5 hours north of Madrid near the village of Navarrete in Rioja Alta,
the vines that go into making Finca Nueva’s Crianza are on average 10–35 years
old and strategically planted in a north-northeast-facing direction. Containing
a climate that is influenced by the nearby Atlantic Ocean, Rioja Alta is known
for prolonged periods of maturation, creating ideal growing conditions for
Tempranillo, an early-ripening varietal. Comprising of 50% estate-grown fruit,
the vines are either trellised or head-pruned and always planted close together,
increasing nutrient competition. Rioja Alta’s unique terroir comprises a mixture of
chalky, calcium-rich and ferrous-clay, to rocky and alluvial soils. The 39 acres of
vineyards controlled by Miguel Ángel de Gregorio for production at Finca Nueva,
are organically fertilized and farmed sustainably.
Vineyard Notes
During harvest, clusters are hand-picked and manually sorted. Grapes are
destemmed and left uncrushed before being placed in stainless steel tanks for a
cold, prefermentary maceration at 41°F, over 6 days. After this time, fermentation
with native yeasts occurs in stainless steel tanks at 82°F, over 10 days. Daily
manual pump-overs take place three times a day, for a total skin maceration of
16 days. The finished wine is drained from tank using gravity and then pressed
using a traditional vertical press. Malolactic fermentation is performed in tank
and the resulting wine is aged for 12 months in French and Amercian oak barrels,
which are racked every 4 months. After oak aging, the wine is left un-fined before
it is aged extensively in bottle in underground metal cages. While a “Crianza”
must only be aged for 2 years, winemaker Miguel Ángel prefers to age his wines
several years longer, making them soft on the palate and ready to consume when
released.
Winemaker Notes
The 2014 began with exceptionally cold and rainy weather, which fully replenished
the region’s important hydric reserves. Below average temperatures lasted
through mid-April, and bud break occurred a bit later, during third week of the
month. The end of April and May saw warm and sunny days, with abundant rainfall.
Flowering took place mid-June with warm, dry weather. July began with cool days
and some rain, while the rest of summer was dry and mild. Veraison began the
second week of August, allowing the vines to achieve optimal maturation, similar
to that found in the very best vintages. The beginning of September was warm
with frequent rainstorms, but thankfully the dry heat produced in mid-September,
through the first week of October, caused any sign of Botrytis to subside. Harvest
began October 8th with cool and clear weather.
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