2017 CVNE Vina Real Gran Reserva

The 2017 Vina Real Gran Reserva is a classical Rioja Alavesa blend of 95% Tempranillo with 5% Graciano from their own vineyards. It matured in new and used barrels for two years and was racked every four months and no less than three in bottle. It has 13.95% alcohol, a pH of 3.54 and six grams of acidity. This is a textbook Gran Reserva; perhaps this year it shows a faster evolution, with notes of olives, with hints of mint, ripe but with acidity. It has a polished palate with fine-grained tannins and a very pleasant tactile sensation. It`s ready but should also last. 30,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2020. 94 points