Anciano Gran Reserva “Aged 10 Years”

Varietal: Tempranillo 100%
D.O.: Valdepeñas
Production: 4,000 cases

TASTING NOTES:
Color: Dark ruby shading to brick red
Nose: Spicy notes of leather and vanilla
Palate: Fruit compote and licorice
Finish: Long, & velvety

VINIFICATION
The Tempranillo grapes were hand-picked from 25 year old vines in stony Valdepeñas vineyards. The soil is clayey-lime and the climate continental - cold winters and hot, dry summers. The growers take care to harvest to achieve optimum ripeness while maintaining good acidity. Fermentation is at controlled temperatures (20-23 degrees celsius) for 15-17 days in stainless steel tanks. The wine is then matured in French and American oak barriques.

TECHNICAL DATA
pH: 3.47
TA: 5.1 g/l
ALC: 13.0%
RS: <4.0g/l
Malolactic: Yes

After extensive tasting and analysis of the best cuvées available in the cellars of Bodegas Navalon, Norrel Robertson MW selects the wine for Anciano. Bodegas Navalon is surrounded by the ancient vineyards of DO Valdepeñas in the rural heart of Spain. It is a family owned bodega, part of a company that was originally
founded at the start of the 20th Century by Don Juan Sánchez. Grapes are sourced from small growers across the region to make the classic red wine Anciano, which is aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 10 years.

Ratings/Reviews

Rating by The Wine Advocate

90 Points - The Wine Advocate “Spain’s Top 100 Wine Values” Issue # 181, Feb 2009 “100% Tempranillo matured in French and American barriques. Dark ruby-colored with a brick rim, it offers up an expressive bouquet of vanilla, earth notes, leather, spice box and blackberry. This leads to a medium-bodied wine with notes of licorice, espresso and fruit compote emerging on the palate. Quite rich and full-flavored, this elegant effort will drink well over the next four years.