Altos R Pigeage Graciano Rioja 2022
Altos R Pigeage Graciano Rioja is Jean-Marc Sauboua’s stunning, rare Rioja made with the region’s rarely seen Graciano grape – awarded a Platinum medal and 97 points by Decanter.
Never heard of Graciano? Not surprising as, despite being Rioja’s most important grape variety about a century ago, today it makes up just 1% of plantings. Oz Clarke called it “far and away the most interesting vine in Rioja”.
Jean-Marc is a great fan and doing his best to revive it. He only makes this flagship special cuvée in the best vintages, because Graciano is hard to ripen. Fruit from ancient bush vines, with ultra-low yields, gives amazing layers and length of flavour. Fermented slowly in open-top wooden fermenters, with once-a-day plunge down (pigeage), then with 20 months in all-new French oak, this is a powerful red. Enjoy now or keep.
Altos R Pigeage Graciano Rioja is Jean-Marc Sauboua’s stunning, rare Rioja made with the region’s rarely seen Graciano grape – awarded a Platinum medal and 97 points by Decanter.
Never heard of Graciano? Not surprising as, despite being Rioja’s most important grape variety about a century ago, today it makes up just 1% of plantings. Oz Clarke called it “far and away the most interesting vine in Rioja”.
Jean-Marc is a great fan and doing his best to revive it. He only makes this flagship special cuvée in the best vintages, because Graciano is hard to ripen. Fruit from ancient bush vines, with ultra-low yields, gives amazing layers and length of flavour. Fermented slowly in open-top wooden fermenters, with once-a-day plunge down (pigeage), then with 20 months in all-new French oak, this is a powerful red. Enjoy now or keep.
