Hermanos Hernáiz Finca La Emperatriz Viñedo Singular Tinto 2019

Description

Classified as Viñedo Singular, the new official single-vineyard category, the 2019 Finca la Emperatriz Tinto is a modern, clean and generously oaked blend of 75% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% Viura from vines that have been worked organically since 2020, for which they hope to get certification with the 2023 harvest. They aim for longevity and elegance, going back to the fine wines from yesteryear – serious, intense and long. The varieties were picked and fermented together in concrete, and the wine matured in 60% new French oak and 40% used American oak for 18 months. It was bottled with 14.7% alcohol, good freshness and balance. It’s a classical modern Rioja that is ripe and generously oaked, powerful but balanced, with elegance and concentration, reflecting a very complete year in the zone. Give it some more time to integrate the oak and polish the tannins a bit. It was bottled in June 2021. Drink date: 2025-2032. Score – 94. (Luis Gutiérrez, robertparker.com, Feb. 29, 2024)