Malpuesto 2012, Rioja

This is a monster of a wine from Rioja in Spain. 100% Tempranillo from low yielding old vines.

Malpuesto is a red wine produced by the Orben winery La Rioja, at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria. The Orben winery belongs to the Izadi Group, a group of well-known wineries in Ribera del Duero, Vetus or Toro.

Malpuesto is a single varietal Tempranillo from the Malpuesto Finca. The Finca vineyard was planted in 1931 and is today one of the oldest vineyards of La Rioja Alavesa. The name, Malpuesto, comes from the irregular arrangement in which the strains were planted. The farm is located on a hillside and has an area of 1.2 hectares.

The soil is sandy and poor, resulting in a low yield yet with high quality. The harvest is done manually in small boxes of 15 kg. Once in the winery, the grapes undergo a strict selection before being placed in vats. Fermentation takes place at controlled temperature and a very gentle pressing is applied before the wine undergoes aging in barrels for about 15 months. Malpuesto is a red wine with lots of character, with a limited production of just over 5,000 bottles.

Think about dark fruit, tobacco, coffee, chocolate and vanilla all mixed into a glass with a dark reed colour and purple rim.

The taste is big, massive, full bodied with lots of dark fruit and an elegant acidity and tannin structure all in perfect harmony.

Very difficult to get hold of, but if you do- just buy.

Only around 25€ which is a bargain.

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