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The family-run winery Emilio Valerio is one of the companies spearheading the resurgence of the iconic D.O. Navarra. This time it's offering us a unique organic wine created exclusively from Graciano, a typical grape variety from La Rioja from which few single-varietal wines are made. It can be difficult to work with but produces very lively and long-lasting wines when the grapes are perfectly ripe, as is the case with Emilio Valerio Usuaran Graciano de Monte 2018. This red was grown in organic vineyards on the slopes of Montejurra and aged for 24 months in barrels made of French and, interestingly, Navarrese oak. It's well worth discovering and can be enjoyed now or kept for a few more years.
General features
General Information
Emilio Valerio Usuaran Graciano de Monte 2018 is an organic wine made from Graciano grapes grown on the slopes of Montejurra. The vines, which are trained on trellises and dry-farmed, grow at an altitude of 550 metres above sea level. The wine has been aged for 24 months in French and Navarrese oak barrels. The wood used to craft those that were locally made came from the oak grove of Olaldea, very close to the French border. This very unusual wine produced in limited quantities.
The grapes were harvested manually in 15-kg perforated crates and hand-sorted on entering the winery. They were completely destemmed and underwent spontaneous alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature in wooden vats. Fully macerated for 20 days with twice-daily pumping over and one délestage (racking and returning) at the end. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation. The wine was finally aged for 24 months in new and seminew French and Navarrese oak barrels.
Bodegas Emilio Valerio is run by the Valerio family whose grape-growing tradition dates back to the sixteenth century. Its vineyards are distributed in small plots on the slopes of Montejurra, a massif that’s a continuation of the famous Sonsierra in Rioja. The winery believes in organic and biodynamic grape growing. And the grapes from each vineyard are processed separately in concrete tanks or wooden vats, while ageing takes place in French and Navarrese oak.
Emilio Valerio Usuaran Graciano de Monte (D.O. Navarra) 2018 displays all the personality of Graciano grapes: deeply nuanced, lively, dense, complex and highly original. A superb red that can be enjoyed now or kept for a few more years.
Creators' opinion
Colour. Ruby-red with a garnet-red and purplish rim, medium pigmentation and thick legs.
Aromas. Very intense nose with notes of ripe red fruit with vegetal touches, hints of caramel and mineral, and a slightly spicy background.
Flavours. Fleshy palate with marked acidity, good body and very prominent tannins. Long finish of ripe fruit with a slight touch of liquor.