Guzman Aldazabal Graciano 2005 Winery: Heredad Guzman Aldazabal D.O.Ca
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Guzman Aldazabal Graciano 2005 Winery: Heredad Guzman Aldazabal D.O.Ca. Rioja Grapes: 100% Graciano Winery: Heredad Guzman Aldazabal is a family owned winery that has been in the same family for several generations. The winery is located in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, the highest alti- tude section of the Rioja D.O.Ca. The winery owns 22 hectares of vineyards, which are farmed in an integrated and ecological manner. No chemicals are used in the vineyards, they are not irrigated and for the control of diseases only copper sulfate and natural sulfur is used. Through this plan, yields are slowly being lowered, year after year with the oldest vineyards already pro- ducing very small quantities. The philosophy of the winery is based fundamentally on an exhaustive control of all the productive phases of the vineyard for a deeper understanding of the grapes. The goal is fruit with small berries, few berries per cluster and few clusters per vine. This assures that the wines will have the noticeable and unique charac- teristics of GUZMÁN ALDAZABAL. Wine: Graciano is a varietal which nearly disappeared from Rioja and was a very important blending component with Tempranillo. Graciano gives acidity, perfume and structure in Rioja wines. It nearly disappeared because it is difficult to grow; late budding, susceptible to downy mildew, low yielding and prone to oxidation. Finally it can pro- duce a wine of great character and extract. Control over this late ripening variety was undertaken in July when bot- toms of bunches were pruned off to assure ripeness in the shoulders of each cluster of grapes. Hand-harvested and fermented in stainless steel followed by aging for 5 months in a combination of French, American and Russian oak. Reviews: “Racy red berries on the nose, with a zesty mineral overlay. Vibrant, sharply focused rasp- berry and cherry flavors pick up a bitter quality on the close, along with firm tannic bite. Finishes with deep cherry/berry character and good, chewy persistence.” 90 points International Wine Cellar Online Article, September ‘07 “This is a new wave Rioja wine and one of the top 100% Graciano varietals. Opaque pur- ple ruby in color, it offers a blackberry and boysenberry fruit forward nose with a touch of reduction, loam and spice. On the palate it tastes very fresh and young with a somewhat jammy fruit attack. This very ripe style of wine has a lot in common with Zinfandel. Lots of fruit, good structure and very drinkable.” 90 points i-winereview.com August ‘08 Selected by Aurelio Cabestrero® Imported by Grapes of Spain 571.642.0343 Phone 571.642.0505 Fax www.grapesofspain.com 09/08.