El Puntido Tempranillo 2007

93 Points - "The 2007 El Puntido is in bottle but not yet released. Deep purple in color, it is a denser, more structured wine than the 2006. It gives up an aromatic array of mineral, Asian spices, smoke, balsamic, and blackberry. Succulent and already becoming complex, this lengthy offering should evolve for another 3-4 years and have a 20-25 year lifespan. Vinedos de Paganos, one of the outstanding Rioja estates, is owned by the Eguren family. The El Puntido cuvee comes from the single Tempranillo vineyard of the same name planted in 1975. It is typically aged in new French oak for 18 months before bottling without filtration." -The Wine Advocate

COMPOSITION: 100% Tempranillo

TASTING NOTES:
91 Points - "Coffee and licorice notes frame blackberry and fig flavors in this bold, modern-style red. But characteristic leaf and tobacco notes keep this rooted in the region. Firm tannins give way to a juicy, floral finish. Drink now through 2015." -Wine Spectator

92 Points - "Bright purple. Smoky, expansive aromas of black raspberry, allspice, anise and potpourri, with a lively mineral quality. Juicy and incisive, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors and excellent clarity. Packs a punch but this wine is surprisingly light on its feet and finishes with striking purity and lingering spiciness. This saw only new French barriques but I find the oak playing a secondary role to the sexy fruit." -Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
The grapes for this wine come from the vineyard El Puntido, 62 acres in Rioja Alavesa. The vineyard was planted in 1975 with high density plantings on trellis and is organically fertilized every 2 years.

Carefully hand-harvested in boxes, from the last week of October, only perfectly healthy, ripe grapes were chosen. Destemmed by hand with a rigorous inspection of every grape.

Fermented and aged for 18 months in French oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation in new French Bordelaise oak barrels.