Bodegas Dehesa La Granja Tempranillo
WHY WE LOVE IT
- In Zamora’s Wine Land, the Fernández Rivera family planted Tempranillo vines from Condado de Haza and renovated a three-century-old winery with an underground cellar. This provides an ideal environment for aging their wines.
- The vineyard is located southwest of Zamora, at altitudes between 700 and 750 meters above sea level, are in an extreme continental climate.
- The vines are around 20 years old and grow in soils formed from sandstone, clay, and limestone sediments.
- This wine is known for its powerful yet elegant style. It is enjoyable now and can also age further.
Varietals: 100% Tempranillo
Elaboration: Made using traditional vinification methods, starting with handpicked grapes at peak ripeness. After fermentation, the wine ages for 12 months in American oak barrels within underground cellars.
Tasting Notes: Clean and bright red wine, intense ruby red color. On the nose, it presents a high intensity with the presence of red fruit, cherry, and toasted and roasted aromas. A flavorful and fruity entry, this wine offers hints of licorice with toffee-like roasted notes and vanilla. It has a well-defined acidity and present tannins that provide volume and persistence on the palate. The finish lingers with intense red fruit. The oak is very well integrated, with notes characteristic of aging in American oak, particularly vanilla and toast.
PRESS
2018 – 92 Wine Enthusiast
2020 – 90 James Suckling
2021 – 90 James Suckling
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
Dehesa La Granja is a prestigious estate in Zamora, Castilla y León, owned by the Fernández Rivera family. Acquired in 1998 by Alejandro Fernández, known as the “Master of Tempranillo,” the estate spans 800 hectares and features viticulture, agriculture, and livestock farming, producing aged cheeses, chickpeas, extra virgin olive oil, and, as one might expect, wines made with Tempranillo grapes and aged for extended periods in American oak. The wines are crafted in historic 18th-century underground cellars, a remarkable 3,000-square-meter cave built in 1750, ideal for aging these noble wines.