Ramon Bilbao Rioja Mirto 2018

' Ramon Bilbao is a renowned Spanish winery based in Rioja, known for producing high-quality wines that blend tradition with innovation. Established in 1924, the winery specializes in crafting elegant, complex wines, with a focus on Tempranillo grapes. Their top-tier wine, Mirto, is made from old vines in select vineyards and is produced only in exceptional years, reflecting the excellence and craftsmanship that define the Ramon Bilbao legacy. The Mirto vineyards are spread across eight villages near Haro, with vines that are over 90 years old. Each year, the best vineyards are carefully chosen to create Mirto. For this vintage, the grapes come from the Villalba area, 650 meters above sea level, in a tough growing environment. The soil is sandy, with some sandstone, and the climate is mild with an Atlantic influence. The grapes are carefully selected and fermented at a controlled temperature. The wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrels using the batonnage technique. It is aged for 18 months in new French oak barrels with a chosen level of toasting. The wine is bottled without clarification or filtration. High-intensity ruby red. Clean, bright, and with dense tears. Aromas of fresh black fruit and ripe cherries. Notes of white pepper, eucalyptus forest, and mint. Tertiary aromas from the oak are expressed with touches of dark chocolate, coffee, and cigar box. On the palate, it is long and unctuous, with fresh acidity and mature tannins. The season was marked by a long, harsh, and rainy winter, causing a 15-day delay compared to other years. Despite this, the grapes reached perfect ripeness and balance before harvest, which began in early September. Production was 10% higher than average, and the vintage was rated as ''Good'' by the Regulatory Council.> '