Finca Río Negro Selección Especial 2019
The unexpected jewel in the heart of Castilla
Finca Río Negro Selección Especial 2019 once again proves that Guadalajara can also speak the language of great red wines. Don't miss it!
In a region not typically associated with wine, this winery has achieved what seemed impossible: crafting a red wine with identity, elegance, and international appeal. The new vintage arrives following the resounding success of its predecessors, which captivated our customers with their character and authenticity. Finca Río Negro Selección Especial 2019 is one of those wines you must try to stay up to date with Spanish wine.
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
20% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 50% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
French oak barrel from Allier (75%) and American (25%) with medium toast
Barrel aging time
12 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Total acidity (g/l)
5.06
Sugar
2
pH
3.64
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14.5
General Information
Finca Río Negro Selección Especial 2019 is a wine born in a setting as unique as it is demanding: at almost a thousand meters above sea level, in Cogolludo (Guadalajara), where viticulture is both a challenge and a declaration of intent. The winery's philosophy is based on crafting wines that honestly express the character of the landscape: “naked” wines, as they define them, that speak of the soil, the climate, and human effort. Each bottle is the result of artisanal work, respectful of the environment, with a clear vocation for permanence and excellence.
Finca Río Negro Selección Especial 2019 is a blend of tempranillo (50%), cabernet sauvignon (20%), syrah (20%), and merlot (10%) made from estate-grown vineyards planted between 1999 and 2005, with yields below 5000 kg per hectare and manual harvesting in 18 kg boxes. The combination of poor, clay-loam soils with pebbles, along with 12 months of aging in French oak barrels (75%) and American oak barrels (25%), adds complexity and balance to the whole, resulting in a versatile and characterful red wine.
This vintage, marked by a slower ripening and higher acidity than in previous years, has achieved a more balanced phenolic maturity, resulting in a red wine with structure, freshness, and great gastronomic potential. At the table, Finca Río Negro Selección Especial 2019 performs confidently alongside medium to high-intensity dishes. It is ideal for grilled red meats, suckling lamb, traditional stews, or small game dishes. It also pairs well with aged cheeses, Iberian cured meats, or even more contemporary options such as an iberian pork presa tataki or a mushroom risotto. A wine that not only accompanies but elevates the gastronomic experience with its firm and elegant presence.
Tasting notes
Clean and bright in appearance, with a cherry red color and violet hues, showing high intensity.
On the nose, it stands out for its intense, deep, and complex aroma, dominated by blackberry-type fruits, well integrated with the characteristic notes of different types of oak. Mineral and balsamic hints.
On the palate, it is powerful yet elegant, full-bodied, fresh, and very persistent.
The winery
The origin of the winery Finca Río Negro dates back to 1998, when José Manuel Fuentes and his family decided to plant vineyards in Cogolludo (Guadalajara), at no less than 1000 meters altitude, in an area where viticulture had been practically abandoned, and at a considerable distance from other vineyards, which, however, centuries ago was the cradle of great wines. After years of research, in 2010 the winery launched its first wine on the market.
Since then, its rise has been meteoric. Currently, Finca Río Negro has 44 hectares of its own vineyards. It cultivates the red varieties tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, and merlot, as well as the white gewürztraminer. Additionally, it is committed to the recovery of an almost extinct variety, the tinto fragoso.
Since March 2025, the Fuentes family winery has been recognized as a Vino de Pago, the highest category that can be achieved in Spain. Thus, the brand has its own protected designation of origin (D.O. Río Negro), in recognition of the quality and uniqueness of its vineyard.