Forged in the 1920s of the last century, Viña Real is a legendary brand and one of the oldest in Spain. Behind it is CVNE, but it is produced in an independent winery located in Rioja Alavesa: architecturally and technologically, one of the most outstanding wineries in the Spanish and European wine scene. This Viña Real Gran Reserva 2017 comes from a vintage that the winery rated as excellent in its vineyards. It is made with 95% tempranillo grapes and 5% graciano which adds liveliness, and it has a long aging of 24 months in barrels.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
5% Graciano, 95% Tempranillo
Type of barrel
French and American oak barrels, new and used once
Type of bottle
Burgundy Bottle
Barrel aging time
24 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Bottling
03/2020
Total acidity (g/l)
5.7
Volatile acidity (g/l)
0.56
pH
3.53
Alcohol content (% vol.)
13.9
General Information
Viña Real Gran Reserva 2017 is born from a harvest in Rioja Alavesa marked by the effects of the April frost and drought, resulting in a limited but high-quality production.
It is made with a selection of estate vineyards located in different areas of Rioja Alavesa: Laguardia, Elciego, and Labastida. Small plots over 35 years old at an altitude between 500 and 650 meters, where bush vines grow on slopes facing south. In its composition, the tempranillo is complemented with a touch (5%) of graciano, which brings liveliness and freshness to the ensemble. It has an aging process of 24 months in new and one-use barrels, made of French and American oak, followed by a minimum of three years in the bottle.
Viña Real belongs to the CVNE group, and since 2004 it has had its own winery dedicated to this range in Laguardia (Rioja Alavesa). But the history of Viña Real is much more extensive. CVNE has been marketing the Viña Real brand since 1920. Therefore, we are looking at one of the pioneering and most emblematic brands of Spanish wine, which, since its origins, has had oak aging as its hallmark. Viña Real embodied - and embodies - the tradition of Rioja Alavesa, combined with the most cutting-edge modernity in winemaking and viticulture, with a fuller, rounder, and more powerful wine profile.
Viña Real Gran Reserva 2017 (D.O.Ca. Rioja) is ideal to pair with all kinds of game stews such as stewed roe deer or hare in wine sauce.
Tasting notes
In appearance, it presents a beautiful mature cherry red color with a slightly brick-red rim, very well covered.
On the nose, it is elegant and complex, with notes of black fruit preserves (blackberry and plum), licorice, and sweet spices (cinnamon and vanilla), complemented by pleasant touches of tobacco and cocoa; all in perfect harmony over a smoky background.
On the palate, it is flavorful, with a smooth entry and high-quality mature tannins. In its finish - long and persistent - the spicy notes announced on the nose return, along with a pleasant memory of fruit in liqueur.
Creators' opinion
Bright, vivid ruby-red color with slight garnet edges and a high color intensity. Very intense and complex on the nose, highlighting notes from its time in the barrel (coffee, spices, toasted, balsamic) well integrated with aromas of red and black fruits and nuts. The entry on the palate is very smooth, unctuous, evolving towards an intense, structured, and long-lasting finish with a certain acidity that gives it freshness. At all times, a sweet tannin is appreciated, very well tamed and perfectly integrated into the final matrix of the wine. It is a wine that will evolve very positively in the bottle, presenting great aging potential.
The winery
Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Real is the cherished project of the historic Barbadillo, a company founded in 1821 by the Barbadillo family, originally dedicated to the production of manzanillas and finos, and now transformed into a winery group with a strong international presence. With roots in Burgos, the Barbadillo family fulfilled their dream of creating a winery in their homeland with Vega Real.
Bodegas y Viñedos Vega Real began its journey in 1997. It is a medium/small-sized winery located in Castrillo del Duero, very close to Peñafiel, in the heart of the Valladolid section of the Ribera del Duero, next to a bend in the Duero River and surrounded by centuries-old poplar trees. Vega Real revives artisanal methods in winemaking and stands out for its meticulous vineyard management, with perfectly identified plots. It owns 80 hectares and also works with vineyards from the best winegrowers in the area. It produces the brands Vega Real Roble, El Empecinado, and Vaccayos.