This is the second vintage of this fantastic sparkling wine from the D.O.Ca. Rioja produced by a century-old winery and aged for as long as a Brut Reserva. Carlos Serres Brut 2020 (90 points from Tim Atkin MW) is a reflection of the sparkling wine-making tradition of Rioja wineries and adds a touch of originality by combining the Viura, Chardonnay and white Tempranillo varieties. It's been aged for 18 months on its lees, plus a minimum of 4 months in the cellar after disgorging. A winning recipe.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
Consumption time
General features
Region
Grape variety
20% Chardonnay, 30% Tempranillo Blanco, 50% Viura
Capacity (cl)
75
Total acidity (g/l)
6.5
Sugar
7
pH
3.2
Alcohol content (% vol.)
12
General Information
Carlos Serres Brut 2020 combines three varieties in its blend: 50% Viura, 20% Chardonnay and 30% Tempranillo Blanco. The grapes came from various municipalities in Rioja Alta, where the vines are blessed with a climate with marked Atlantic influence, ideal for producing high-quality sparkling wines for ageing. The 2020 vintage was particularly good, reflected in expressive, well-structured whites. The different grape varieties were harvested by hand separately and selected on a sorting table on arriving at the winery.
The must was extracted gently and delicately, yielding a very small quantity. The musts underwent an initial fermentation at a controlled low temperature. Once fermentation was complete, the single-varietal base wines were blended in January, when the tirage was carried out and the second fermentation in the bottle began. The wine was aged on racks on its lees for 18 months in order to add complexity and elegance. Subsequently, in September, disgorging was performed to continue ageing with cork stoppers in bottle racks for at least another four months.
The Carlos Serres winery is named after its founder, a renowned wine consultant born in Orleans, who was a pioneer in setting up business in Rioja after the Phylloxera wine blight struck France. Fascinated by the wine-growing conditions in Rioja, he founded his own winery in the Haro's Station district in 1896. He became a pioneer in ageing wines based on the Bordeaux method. He was also a notable pioneer in exporting Rioja wine. In 2000, the Vivanco family acquired 100% of Bodegas Carlos Serres.
In Rioja, the tradition of making sparkling wines using the traditional method – the same as for champagne – dates back to the late nineteenth century. In fact, for decades, various municipalities in the Rioja D.O.Ca produced sparkling wines under the D.O. Cava label. In recognition of their potential quality, in 2017 the Rioja D.O.Ca. Regulatory Council decided to create its own category of sparkling wines. Bodegas Carlos Serres took advantage of this to produce the first vintage of its fine Rioja sparkling wine: this fabulous Brut, now in its second year.
The sparkling wine Carlos Serres Brut 2020 (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is ideal with rice with scampi or duck foie gras.
The winery
The historic winery Carlos Serres is named after its founder, a renowned wine consultant born in Orleans, who was a pioneer in settling in Rioja after the arrival of phylloxera in France. Amazed by the winemaking conditions offered by Rioja, Carlos Serres founded his own winery in the Barrio de la Estación of Haro in 1896. From there, he became a precursor of wine aging following the Bordeaux model. He also stood out as a pioneer in the export of Rioja wine. In the year 2000, the Vivanco family acquired 100% of Bodegas Carlos Serres, leading to a significant renewal of the winery's wines and the construction of new facilities in the municipality of Haro, but outside the Barrio de la Estación.
The wines of Carlos Serres are made with grapes from the El Estanque estate, which spans 60 hectares and is located in Haro (La Rioja), as is the winery itself. The soils of the estate, clay-limestone with the presence of gravel, are ideal for cultivating traditional grape varieties. The winery is committed to using concrete tanks for winemaking, aiming to maximize the fruity expression of each variety (the porosity of concrete allows for micro-oxygenation).
In July 2020, Bodegas Carlos Serres achieved the Wineries for Climate Protection certification. This seal recognizes the commitment to sustainability and environmental care, currently held by only 27 wineries in Spain.