Gómez Cruzado Honorable 2016

Honorable has always been the most traditional of their bottlings, but the 2016 Honorable shows a lot less oaky than in past vintages. The wine is fresh and balanced, keeping its balsamic side but giving more room to fruit and chalkiness, coming through as cleaner and more focused. I'm sure the freshness of 2016 has helped, but there is a clear line of progression in all the wines, and Honorable is not an exception. This should develop magnificently in bottle. It's mostly Tempranillo with some 10% made up of other red and white varieties—Viura, Malvasía, Garnacha Tinta, Mazuelo and Graciano—with good ripeness and freshness. It matured in French oak barrels for 18 months. 18,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2019.

Honorable dates back to 1914 as a brand and occupies stylistic ground between the modern and traditional schools. Based on Tempranillo with 5% Garnacha, Graciano, Mazuelo and Viura, this all comes from old vine parcels in the Sonsierra. Showing good dark berry intensity, fine tannins and supporting acidity. 2023-35

Carefully blended, rich and well made with smoky, flashy new oak and roasted coffee bean aromas. The palate is structured and powerful with very pure dark fruits notes and enough acidity to keep it fresh.