A Rioja grown on old vines that showcases the Garnacha variety
Martínez Corta Cepas Antiguas Garnacha 2017 is a unique wine that showcases the purest essence of the Garnacha variety in Rioja. It was grown on old vines and is the result of a painstaking winemaking process that enhances the flavours from the fruit with precise ageing in French oak. It’s a red that’s packed with character, designed to be enjoyed now and to develop further in the bottle.
Martínez Corta Cepas Antiguas Garnacha 2017 es un vino singular que reivindica la esencia más pura de la garnacha en Rioja. Procede de cepas viejas y una elaboración minuciosa que afina su expresión frutal con una crianza precisa en roble francés. Se trata de un tinto con carácter, pensada para disfrutar ahora y crecer en botella.
Martínez Corta Cepas Antiguas Garnacha 2017 is the result of a careful selection of grapes and a 15-month stint in French oak, followed by bottle ageing to achieve a complex and harmonious wine. Ripe red fruit, scrubland and resiny notes combine in an intense and elegant nose. It’s fresh and enveloping on the palate, with a long finish of fruit and a velvety mouthfeel. This vintage has received numerous awards at the most prestigious competitions and high scores from the most influential wine critics. In fact, it picked up gold medals at the Challenge International du Vin 2024 and the Concurso de Vinos Real Casino de Madrid2024, as well as a silver medal at Decanter 2022. It's also been awarded 92 points by the Peñín guide and 94 by Tim Atkin.
The grapes used to make Martínez Corta Cepas Antiguas Garnacha 2017 came from plots of old vines in Uruñuela and Cenicero, located at an altitude of around 500 metres. These vineyards grow in poor, well-drained, mineral-rich soils rich, which limit the vigour of the vines and enhance the quality of the berries. The climate, a combination of Atlantic influence and continental traits, ensures slow ripening that preserves freshness and tension. The grapes are harvested and sorted by hand to ensure the integrity and purity of the Garnacha. This process explains the wine’s aromatic finesse, balance and ageing potential.
Bodegas y Viñedos Martínez Corta is a family-owned Rioja winery that combines well-established roots with modern precision winemaking. It uses controlled fermentation in steel vats to preserve the fruit and carefully calibrated ageing in selected oak barrels to enhance the wine’s texture and complexity. Its philosophy focuses on respect for the vineyard and the pursuit of elegance, balance and longevity. The result is wines that combine the identity of Rioja with a modern feel and are a delight when served. In Martínez Corta Cepas Antiguas Garnacha 2017 Garnacha is the star of the show, with its crisp and enticing flavours.
Founded in 2005, Bodegas y Viñedos Martínez Corta is backed by four generations of a family of winegrowers in Rioja Alta, specifically in the area of Uruñuela. A family project that began with the planting of the first vineyards on the slopes located on the banks of the Najerilla River, near the villages of San Asensio and Torremontalbo. Today, it has 80 hectares of vineyards situated in a privileged area, between the Ebro and Najerilla rivers. Most of them are very old, century-old vines that grow in poor, healthy soils, both calcareous and clayey, which promote low yields of high quality.
The winery's facilities, surrounded by vineyards, feature a distinctive octagonal layout. Its range of wines respects the classic character of the region, while being well-updated to contemporary tastes. Currently, Martínez Corta is part of the Bornos Bodegas y Viñedos group.
