Alegre Valgañón La Calleja Rioja 2019

La Calleja on suurepärane Single Wineyard Rioja vein Fonzaleche külast. Aia istutas 1992. aastal Eva Valgañón koos oma isaga. Sordid on 95% Tempranillo 5% Garnacha Blanca. Veini kääritamine on tehtud suurtes lahtistes tammevaatides ning laagerdunud 3000-liitrises tammevaadis 20 kuud. Seda veini on toodetud vaid 2800 pudelit. Tänu Atlandi ookeani lähedusele on Rioja loodeosa kliima jahedam, mis tagab sellele veinile erakordse elegantsi ja aroomi; küps kirss, vaarikas, tasakaalustatud tammest tulenev vaniljenüanss ja värskus, mis muudab maitse särtsakaks. Suurepärane, läbimõeldud, aristokraatlik Rioja peenete liharoogade kõrvale, nagu lambaliha, grillitud pardirind või põrsapraad (el cochinillo).

92/100p The Wine Advocate: The red 2019 La Calleja comes from a vineyard that could only be bottled in 2010, 2016 and 2018, as it has suffered everything—hail, frost or whatever. It´s from a north-facing plot that was planted in 1992 in Fonzaleche on shallow sandstone soils on white limestone that is harvested late but keeps a moderate degree (14.2%). This 2019 feels darker than usual, with black rather than red fruit, but it is still vibrant on the palate with freshness and fine tannins. The vineyard is farmed organically (but not certified), and they started with regenerative agriculture in 2019.