Epitomises old-style Rioja gran reserva. Nose dominated by dried fruits, leathery and earthy aromas. On the palate the fruit is almost gone, but it shows firm tannins with an impressive grip and very good acidity – a good bet for its future. A bit warm in alcohol.

2015 was hot and dry, a textbook warm year in Rioja. Terse, a collision of punctuation, like five exclamation marks wrapped up in curly brackets. A calligraphy tangle of wild fruit and wild herbs. Lavender on the finish. Fantastically vigorous. Vivid. Pumping with juice. Acidity is sweet, intense, clementine, sour cherry, red damson. This is gorgeous. Just bursting to be poured, bursting to be loved, bursting to flood the world and brim the wine glasses and steal hearts and spill its ravishing loveliness into every corner it can find. I fell in love with this baby. It's just taking wing. (TC)