El Aritza Tempranillo

The El Aritza wine series is made by the Cruz de Castillo family, and this is clearly noticeable in both the aroma and the taste. This red Tempranillo is soft, stylish, and boasts the grape's beautiful characteristics. Moreover, the Cruz de Castillo family grew up with the Tempranillo grape, as the winery originally began in Rioja. Since 1850, they have been producing the finest wines, providing them with extensive experience in Spanish wine. Today, Franseco Jr. is at the helm of this beautiful winery and grew up among the vineyards. As a young boy, he was inspired by the "mighty trees" surrounding the vineyards in Utiel Requena. That's precisely why he named this wine series El Aritza, which means "Wood-Aged Wines."

Wood aging for the El Aritza Tempranillo

The vineyards for this red El Aritza are located in Valencia, specifically in the Utiel Requena region. There, the Tempranillo grapes grow into true heroes. This is partly due to the rich soil structure, but also to the age of the vineyards. The old vineyards don't produce a large yield, but they do produce superb quality. This makes this El Aritza Tempranillo one of the winemaker's "Signature Wines," elegant and complex. After harvest, the juice is aged in oak for at least 12 months. During this period, it develops considerable strength and suppleness, which we all taste.

Full and very powerful this El Aritza Tempranillo

Upon pouring, we see a beautiful deep purple color with a red sheen. It smells of lovely, classic notes of red fruit, vanilla, and a hint of oak. Later, a touch of spice and a touch of dark chocolate. On the palate, it's a lovely interplay of red and black fruit, accompanied by refined spices like cinnamon, bay leaf, and pepper. On the back of the palate, some cocoa and vanilla, as well as cedarwood, are present. The overall impression is full and complex, with plenty of smoothness.