2016 Finca Los Principes Rioja Gran Reserva ($19.99)
Finca “Los Principes” (The Princes) is a wine from the Spanish wine region of Rioja.
This wine is made from grapes grown in a historic vineyard in the foothills of the Cantabria Mountains that stretch across northern Spain. The winery has six generations of winemaking experience.
This Rioja wine is produced from 100% Tempranillo grapes. Per the standards for a “Gran Reserva,” it was required to undergo a minimum of five years of aging, with at least two of those years in oak barrels.
This Finca Los Principes Rioja Gran Reserva is a medium ruby red in color with big aromas of red fruit, oak and herbal notes including tobacco. On the palate, this is a medium-full bodied wine with nice flavors of red cherry, black cherry and fig. The oak aging leads to some subtle flavor of cocoa. This wine is medium-high in tannin and acidity and finishes a bit spicy with an every so slight tartness.
Gran Reserva wines from Rioja can be extraordinary. And, this Finca Los Principes is indeed. And, at this price, is a terrific fit as the Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!