Castillo Labastida Manuel Quintano
2018 El Sauco Rioja Alavesa

This ‘Viñedo Singular’ is the finest expression from the prized El Saúco vineyard. El Saúco is a key component to the consistently 96-100 point scoring (Wine Advocate), $300-$450 Contador bottling from Benjamin Romeo. It is also the source for his 95-point scoring, $225/bottle blanco known as "El Saúco Parcel No. 5". This is pedigreed soil to say the least.

Deep, dark garnet on the pour, a broad fruit spectrum is wide across the (still) youthful bouquet (it is a 2018 after all, crazy!) framed by a new wood, no-expense-spared profile. Just as broad and long on the palate, with incredible, rich and dense depth, the graphite is just beginning to emerge amidst deep blackberry jam and vanilla blossom flavors. The finish is long and resonant with cherry-spiked oak spices. The best is yet to come from this bottle, give it a good 24-48 hour decant now to see the potential!