Awards PLATINIUM MEDAL DECANTER, GRAND GOLD MEDAL BRUXELLES, GOLD MEDAL MUNDUS VINI, GOLD MEDAL BERLINER Country: Spain Region: Rioja Varietal: Graciano, Tempranillo Vintage: 2009 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Bodegas Finca Manzanos  On the border between Rioja and Navarra, Victor Manzanos carries on the work of the four generations before him. Two top competition Golds for this unusual and outstanding Rioja Reserva from the Manzanos brothers. They are proud owners of one fifth of all Rioja’s Graciano plantings and this particular wine uses the grapes from the oldest Graciano vines in the world. Add a tiny portion of Tempranillo and age it all in fine French oak barrels, all new, for 3 years for the utmost quality. They felt this was a wine worthy of celebrating their 125 years of winemaking history – and, judging by the medals, they have done a great job. The two brothers took control of the family bodega at a very young age in 2010 (Victor was just 20) and have gone from strength to strength. Only made in tiny quantities, this wine won’t be around for long. Delicious with lamb. Blend of two grapes. A 80 years old Graciano vineyard, the oldest in the denomination, situated in a sandy soil and round pebbles at an altitude of 370m. It has an unbeatable orientation to the sun and gives us concentrated mineral wines. The blend is complemented with Tempranillo from a sunny site with 40-year-old vines giving us elegant, fresh concentrated wines. Fermentation in 300 litres open barrels with daily punching down. 15 days maceration with malolactic fermentation and aging 36 month. Tasting Note Everything about this wine, from the noble metal plated label to the juice within, screams power, class. Dripping with style (like me.) Thirteen years old, but still absolutely rocking with full tilt richness, heady aromatics, and a nice background chorus of tertiary nuances developing. Roasted coffee, mixed berry conserves, black cherry and blackberry, toasty vanilla, and sweet turned earth come to mind. Tannins have resolved into fine-grained but announce their presence on the finish. Food Matching Cured cheeses, grilled meats, game and traditional stews.