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Item Number: 6966
UPC: 8436049640082
Country: Spain
Region: La Rioja (Spain)
Appellation/AVA: Rioja DOCa
Vintage: 2012
Grape(s): 50% Garnacha / 40% Tempranillo / 10% Graciano
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750ml Pack: 12
Closure: Artificial Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 14
Elevation: 1969 ft
Case Production: 1200
Location: Located in the Rioja region (Zone 3 and 4). The Garnacha and Graciano grapes come from two vineyard sites located in the southern warmer Rioja Baja subzone at elevations of 600 meters (1,969 ft.) and 450 meters (1,476 ft.), respectively. The Tempranillo grapes come from the cooler subzone of Rioja Alta where the vineyards are sited at 500 meters (1,640 ft.) elevation. For soils, the Garnacha is grown in gravel mixed with clay-heavy limestone. The Graciano is cultivated mostly in soils rich with river stones and clay, and the Tempranillo vineyards are on a bed of limestone and clay. Regarding climate, the grapes that comprise the blend come from two different subzones. From Rioja Baja, Garnacha and Graciano make up 60% of the blend while from Rioja Alta; Tempranillo is 40% of the blend. Average temperatures from April-October in Rioja Baja are 65.5°F as opposed to 63.7°F in Rioja Alta. For yearly rainfall, in Rioja Baja, it’s 14.4 inches whereas in Rioja Alta it is 15.4 inches. In Rioja’s grand tradition of blending, the diversity of climatic conditions allows Bozeto to achieve superior levels of ripeness in the Rioja Baja grapes and acidity in the Rioja Alta fruit. These characters combine to form an extremely balanced and consistent wine year after year.
Winemaking Notes: All the grapes are picked by hand and put into 12 kg cases for protection during transport to the winery. The fruit goes through a selection process to single out the best bunches and berries. There is pre-fermentation maceration when the skins mix with the juice for five days at low temperature (45ºF) to extract more expressive fruit aromas. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures (below 70-75ºF) to carefully extract less tannins and polyphenols and accentuate the pretty fruit characters of the area. Once fermentation is complete, post-fermentation maceration, where the skins mix with the wine, is performed for seven days. The Garnacha portion of the blend is aged for seven or eight months in concrete vats instead of oak barrels to achieve a softer, natural oxygenation without imparting oak flavors. The Graciano and Tempranillo portions are aged for nine months in neutral French oak barrels that are at least 3 years old.
Tasting Notes: Bright purple. Expressive aromas of blackberry, woodsmoke, spicecake and cracked pepper. Intensely flavored but lithe, offering penetrating cherry and blackberry flavors that show bright floral lift. Finishes with fine-grained tannins and lingering notes of licorice and bitter cherry.
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