Traditional Rioja From Hermanos de Peciña: From Cosecha 2012 to Gran Riserva 2001 I am a huge lover of traditionally made Rioja, with wineries like Lopez de Heredia, Cune and La Rioja Alta all being some of my favorites. But the surge in interest and demand by US wine drinkers in the last 10 years or so, combined with - or at least in part caused by - lots of attention in the press have made some of our favorites harder to find, and in some cases, much pricier. Tasting through the line up of wines from Hermanos de Peciña I realized I had just found a great new alternative source of classical Rioja - at least until they too get discovered! These are lovely, old-school, traditionally made wines, reminiscent of Lopez in some ways, wines that every lover of Rioja should get to know! Best thing is they start at very modest prices, and even the older Reservas are very reasonable. While not an old winery, it is definitely a winery with an old soul. Pedro Peciña, who founded the winery in 1992, had worked 20 plus years as the head agronomist for La Rioja Alta (a favorite!) where he learned much of what he would bring to his own venture. The winery and vineyards are located in San Vicente, north of the Ebro river near the border of the Basque Alavesa zone. They have about 50 hectares vineyards, many of them 40-60 years old, most at an altitude of about 500 meters at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria Mountains. This is part is responsible for the lovely freshness and underlying acidity these wines possess, even as they age. Farmed with sustainable and organic practices, harvested by hand, destemmed with wild yeasts used for fermentations. Wines are a blend of about 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano, 2% Garnacha. Aging is in used American oak, and the wines are then racked every 6 months, one of the few that still rack using the traditional open air trasiego method by hand. The wines have more dried fruits, elegance, and subtle notes in lieu of super ripeness and power. Aging is much longer here than what the law requires: • Crianza: 2 years in wood, 1+ in bottle (by law, 1 year oak, 6 months bottle) We are offering a wide range of wines, both in price and style and maturity, each of which is a great value and superb example of fine, traditional Rioja winemaking. Mix up a case or two and enjoy!! Cheers! Chris Cosecha 2012 - $10.99 on sale (reg $13) Aged for 6 months in tank. It is a delightful and fresh wine with beautiful spicy Tempranillo fruit. Medium deep ruby, bright, juicy and fresh. Crianza 2007 - $17.99 on sale (reg $21) - This really steps it up, 30 year average vines, sweet sandalwood and dried cherry on the nose and palate. Complex and smooth with dusty red berry fruit and hints of leather, cedar and tobacco. Reserva 2005 - $24.99 on sale (reg $29) - Another big step up - from 30-35 year old vines, with one 60 year parcel that is their highest in altitude. Sweet dried fruits, leather, spicebox, earth. Only made in excellent vintages. More mature notes than the Crianza, more complexity. Vendimia Seleccionada 2001 - $45 on sale (reg $50) - This is 3 years oak, 3 years in the bottle, and is a little sweeter, riper and richer, deeper and darker in style than the Gran Reserva, although it could be classified as such. Again, only made in exceptional years. Gran Reserva 2001 - $45 on sale (reg $50) - This is a stunning, delicious, classic Rioja, with dried fruits and flowers, leather, game - deeper, darker secondary aromas and flavors here. Lovely balance and acidity underneath. This is from their oldest vines, north facing, only made in excellent vintages. To Order: Click on the links below, reply to this emai or call us at 908.953.0900. Wines Arrive Friday March 21st. |
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