Notes from the Winemaker:
Ruby-red color. Aromas of red fruit and spices. A balanced wine. Barrel-aged 6 months. An ideal wine for daily consumption.
Founded by Guillermo Eguren, who is a self-made "bodeguero", coming from a family tradition of vine growers. Today, the fourth generation of the Eguren family, Marcos Eguren, is the winemaker and director of the winery. Sierra Cantabria has come to the forefront of Spanish wineries in the last 15 years. This is from the extreme care that they give to their vineyards, located in the best terrain of Rioja, the savoir-faire of Marcos Eguren, and his price-conscious policies. Vineyards are located in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, one of the most famous towns in Rioja, known for the quality of its grapes. The grapes are sourced on 267 acres (108 ha), from 1,440-1,740 ft. above sea level (480-580 m), spread among the towns of San Vicente de la Sonsierra, Labastida, and Laguardia. The proportions of grapes are 91% Tempranillo, 3% Malvasia, and 6% Viura. 75% of the production comes from their own vineyards, the rest they buy from local growers. They have been doing ecologically conscious agriculture in their own vineyards for the last 12 years. Average production 0.5 t/acre (hectare is 5,000 kg). The soil is composed of Clay-lime, the best soil of Rioja. The climate is Continental, with the influence of winds from the Atlantic, but protected from more severe weather by the Sierra Cantabria Mountains
Ratings & Reviews:
"Best Buy" - Wine Enthusiast Magazine:"Fairly generous for a bargain-priced, everyday Rioja. There’s bacon, rubber, leather and mild oak on the fruity bouquet, while the palate is concentrated, jumpy and hosts honest red berry fruit flavors along with dry oak and a spot of vanilla. Meets any reasonable expectation of what $12 Rioja should be." — M.S. (6/1/2010)
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:"100% tempranillo from high-altitude vineyards) Deep red. Strawberry and dried cherry aromas are lifted by an enticing floral element and complicated by notes of cured meat and underbrush. Sweet, silky and fine-grained, with firm acids energizing the raspberry and floral flavors. Dusty tannins add solid grip and carry through the long, spicy finish. With air, the red fruits come on strong, suggesting that this deserves decanting or some more cellar time. Definitely not a modern style of Rioja." - Josh Raynolds (Sep/Oct '09)
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:"The estate-bottled 2007 Sierra Cantabria was aged for six months in tank and six months in seasoned French and American oak. Dark ruby in color, it has an alluring nose of violets, mineral, incense, and blackberry. In the mouth it shows off some finesse with its silky, easy-going personality. This expressive Rioja finishes with no hard edges. Drink it over the next three years." - Jay Miller (June 2009)
