A New Look at Old-Vine Tempranillo
When we set out to explore Rioja, I wasn’t entirely sure what we were going to find. But Israel Eguíluz's wines left a lasting impression on me, and this single-vineyard tempranillo in particular is etched into my memory.
Israel started his career as an industrial engineer, but the pull back to the land his family inhabited for generations was irresistible. I could see the light in his eyes and his unprovoked grin betraying his love for his home as we walked through the vineyards. He joined his father, Javier, at the winery, working side by side with a shared reverence for their land and a common philosophy of minimalist winemaking in the cellar.
Javier built the winery in 1982, with a collection of family plots around the town of Ábalos, at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria mountains. For decades, he produced wines that fit the common paradigm of Rioja - Joven, Crianza, and Reserva wines - though still reflecting the particularities of Abalos.
As the torch passed, Israel saw greater possibilities. Without asking his father's permission or advice, Israel began bottling single vineyard wines--separating the best parcels and barrels to highlight the tremendous holdings they had at the very edge of Rioja.
Today’s very special offer is one of these--the crown jewel of the Eguíluz holdings. It’s a wine called Carrapeciña— a pure Tempranillo, from the coolest and highest elevation vineyard in the municipality of Ábalos.
When Israel says, “I want to put the vineyard directly into the bottle,” this is what he means.
BODEGAS EGUILUZ
• ‘Carrapeciña’ Rioja DOCa 2023 •
Comprised of a barrel selection from three adjacent plots, located in the highest and coolest area of Ábalos, Carrapeciña is the purest expression of Tempranillo from Eguíluz.
Israel ferments this in stainless steel to preserve the purity of aromatics and fruit in the wine, with a gentle extraction from this naturally powerful grape, to achieve a delicate and nuanced wine. It is aged briefly in used oak barrels for 8 months to integrate tannins and develop a dense, refined, and elegant structure.
From the moment you pour this into the glass, you know you’re in for a ride. The wild aromatics nearly leap out, with notes of violets and huckleberries. The mid-palate is broad and mouth-filling, with dark fruits and spice the whole way. You’ll be left with lasting echoes of flavor and a refined, silky texture. A wine of depth, layered complexity, and seriously delicious, that could cellar beautifully for a decade or more.
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As I said with our first offer of Eguíluz, I'm thrilled to introduce you to this spectacular winery in Rioja. Everything we tasted from them was enticing and revelatory, but this special bottle truly blew past any expectations we had.
As you can guess, this is a rare treat--old vines, small, high elevation plots. There is not much to go around, so we're limiting this to 3 bottles per customer. This is a phenomenal bottle to get reacquainted with Tempranillo and familiarize yourself with the new generation of wines coming from Rioja. Grab a bottle for your holiday table, and maybe one or two extra for the cellar.