A Merlot from the Utiel Requena wine region in Valencia—that's promising. It's a unique red wine, the likes of which we've never seen before. This El Aritza Merlot is made by the Cruz de Castillo family, true pioneers in Spanish wine. Because of this, they didn't hesitate to plant the Merlot grape in the Utiel Requena wine region. It proved a success, and today, more wineries are doing the same, but they still don't achieve a wine as beautiful as this one. That probably has something to do with the Cruz de Castillo family's extensive experience. They've been making the finest wines since 1850, starting in Rioja. Later, they expanded to other wine regions, where they also achieved great success.
Wood aging for the El Aritza Merlot
The Merlot grapes grow in fantastic conditions, with plenty of warmth from the sun and cool nighttime breezes from the ocean. This has proven to be a never-ending success story, as the Merlot grapes thrive. The rich soil structure, rich in limestone, gravel, and clay, provides the vines with everything they need. 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 oak-aged wines. When the Merlot grapes are ripe, a portion is hand-harvested and rigorously selected; only the best make it into the bottle. After pressing, the grapes are aged in oak for six months, which leaves them with a wealth of beautiful impressions!
The rich and soft taste of the El Aritza Merlot
Upon opening the bottle, we immediately smell a heady aroma of blueberries, spices, and a hint of vanilla. Our senses are stimulated and pampered by the beautiful deep red color in the glass. We quickly take the glass and smell this magnificent red wine. It gives us impressions of a top-quality Merlot, abundant blackcurrant fruit, fresh herbs, vanilla, and a touch of cedar. The palate is initially smooth with a rich, blackcurrant fruit aroma. Later, the spectacle begins, revealing nuances of toasted oak, cocoa, and a touch of stewed cherries.
2021
