Magnificent Magnum: A Tempranillo Time Capsule in Every Pour!
Tasting a Condado de Haza Crianza 2018 in a magnum format is an experience that invites you into the depth and richness of Spanish winemaking, offering both the immediate allure of its aromatic profile and the promise of graceful aging extended by its larger bottle size. Aged for 18 months in 225L oak barrels before being bottled, with an additional 6 months in bottle.. The regulations in Ribera del Duero stipulate Crianze requires at least 12 months in barrel and the remaining time in bottle.
As you pour the wine into your glass, the wine greets you with a deep, ruby red hue, shimmering with garnet reflections. This enchanting visual is indicative of its aging potential and vibrant expressiveness.
The wine opens with a captivating bouquet of ripe blackberries and dark cherries, intertwined with subtle notes of crushed violets. As it breathes, hints of cedar, tobacco, mocha, and a touch of vanilla from its time in oak barrels weave through, providing a sensual complexity that promises much more to unfold with each swirl.
The first sip reveals a full-bodied wine that is lush and well-structured. The ripe fruit character detected on the nose transitions beautifully onto the palate with juicy plum and fig notes. This fruitiness is balanced with fine-grained tannins and a vibrant acidity that carries hints of mocha, clove, and an earthy undertone. The lengthy finish is both elegant and persistent, leaving a lingering note of graphite and spice that tempts you back for another sip.
While this Crianza is already showing splendid character, the magnum format offers significant benefits for aging. Wine in a magnum, with its reduced oxygen exposure relative to volume, ages more slowly and evenly, allowing flavors to deepen and integrate harmoniously over time. This slower aging process ensures that by the time you revisit this wine years down the line, its potential will be magnificently realized, with richer complexities and smoother textures emerging. The extended aging in a magnum format enhances the wine's longevity and often results in greater depth and balance, presenting an opulent journey through its evolving profile.
The result? A joyous encounter that not only showcases the compelling craft of Ribera del Duero but also offers the tantalizing promise of gentle maturation, revealing more nuanced pleasures with each passing year. Trust that this magnum is not just a wine, but an invitation to savor the passage of time itself. Thank you so much to Veronica for this incredible gift, as magnums are meant to be enjoyed with family as we did lakeside in Quebec. We paired this darling with a grilled prime rib with roasted vegetables. Sublime!
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