Viña Bosconia Reserva 2012

There are Bosconia fans and Tondonia fans and there are people, like me, who adore both. Sourced from a fairly extensive, south-facing, 62-year-old vineyard, this is a partnership of Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha and 5% each of Graciano and Mazuelo. Sweet and savoury, with notes of tobacco leaf and five-spice, some clove and pepper top notes, sappy acidity and raspberry and patisserie flavours. 2023-35

Savory aromas of subtle earthy berries, oranges, iron and hints of walnut, tobacco and mushrooms. Fine tannins with high acidity on the palate with juicy, savory berries and a long, citrusy finish. A hint of tertiary caramel character at the end, making this very complex and complete. Drink now or in the next 10-15 years.

The 2012 Viña Bosconia Reserva is perhaps a little too young (María José López de Heredia likes more polished wines, and for her this wine was too tough), with some tannins and the chalky texture from the limestone soils. This blend of Tempranillo with 15% Garnacho and 5% between Graciano and Mazuelo matured in used American oak barrels for five years. 80,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2019.