The
Eguren family has grown and vinified wine in Castilla - specifically
in Rioja - since the 1870s. Their properties include Sierra Cantabria
in Rioja and Numanthia in the Toro region.
The grapes
for Protocolo - 100% Tempranillo - come from Finca La Mota, a 25 hectare
(61.8 acres) vineyard 2,700 ft. in elevation with calcareous clay
soils. The vineyard is oriented to the southwest, and planted in the
traditional vaso (bush) and cabeza (head-trained) systems. Yield is
51 hectoliters per hectare.
Harvest
began in the third week of September 2006. Fermentation was temperature-controlled
and the wine was aged for 3 months in 1-3-year-old American oak barrels.
There
is a simple elegance to this wine with its soft, ripe tannins and
natural fruit. It is remarkably versatile, pairing well with a variety
of foods including fish, cold salads and savory egg dishes like quiche
and souffle.
Stephen
Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar’s Josh Raynolds awarded 2006 Protocolo
88 points:
