Marques de Vargas

Notes Bodegas y Viñedos del Marqués de Vargas is undoubtedly one of the most impressive cellars in Rioja today. Situated just outside Logroño in a privileged part of DOC Rioja, it has a superb and ultra-modern winery that produces wines only of the very highest quality from grapes grown in vineyards that are known as 'La Hacienda de Pradolagar' and belong to the family of the Marqués de Vargas. They border those of the Marqués de Murieta and the Marqués del Romeral, an area popularly known as 'Los Tres Marqueses'. The 65-hectare estate, where the family has been growing vines for four generations, carries on the old Rioja tradition of the 'bodegas de hacienda' in which the wine is produced exclusively from the grapes grown on the family Estate. The location of the property in the heart of the Ebro valley enables it to enjoy both Atlantic and Mediterranean influences, long hours of sunshine, low rainfall not exceeding 400 mm per year and protection from the westerly winds, ideal conditions for growing Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Garnacha.Absolute priority is given to fruit quality. The vines receive no irrigation and only natural fertilisers are occasionally applied - herbicides or pesticides are not used. The vineyards are pampered as if they were gardens! Pruning, vital for good fruit, takes place first in winter to enhance fruit production and then again in summer once the vegetative cycle is under way. Fruit thinning and the removal of leaves are also carefully carried out. The grapes used for the Marqués de Vargas Reserva come from Marques de Vargas' vineyards and the wine is made according to traditional winemaking techniques. The wine is aged for 22-24 months in oak barrels, and bottled without  any clarification or filtering. It has an intense colour, good structure and the interesting finish that the new wood adds. Aged in a mixture of American, French and Russian barrels. "This outstanding trio of wines begins with the 2003 Reserva, a wine composed of 75% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo, 5% Garnacha, and the balance a field blend. It spent 23 months in a mix of French, Russian, and American oak. Dark ruby purple-colored, it has a fine nose of earth, vanilla bean, tobacco, black currant, and blueberry. Medium to full-bodied with excellent focus for this vintage, the wine has ample fruit, complex flavors, and excellent balance. Drink it now and over the next 6-8 years." 90 Points, The Wine Advocate.
 
   

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