Sierra Cantabria El Bosque

El Bosque is a marvellous red wine made by Viñedos Sierra Cantabria winery in DO La Rioja. Viñedos Sierra Cantabria is a small winery owned by Bodega Sierra Cantabria, and they also own other wineries in La Rioja like Señorío de San Vicente and Dominio de Eguren, and well-known Teso la Monja in D.O. Toro.

El Bosque is a single variety Tempranillo. The grapes are grown in Finca El Bosque, a small 1.5 hectare estate with old vines more than 40 years old, grown on clayey-limestone soils with gravel and rocks on the surface.
The area is sheltered by the Sierra Cantabria, with a mixture between Atlantic and Mediterranean climates with mild winters and summers and a large temperature difference between day and night: ideal conditions for ripening grapes.

Sierra Cantabria's agriculture is completely respectful of the environment. They do not use any type of chemical fertiliser, only organic fertilisers every two years.
The harvest is carried out by hand and the grapes are transported to the winery in small crates to keep them in perfect condition. The grapes undergo a double selection process. The first selection is of the bunches on the vines and the second selection is when they arrive at the winery on a conveyor belt and only the best berries are selected.

El Bosque is made using the traditional method. Production begins with pre-fermentative maceration at a cold temperature of 8ºC for 3 days. Fermentation takes place in French oak vats at a controlled temperature of 28ºC with 2 grape treadings daily for the first 8 fermentation days and once daily during the remaining 5 days. Ageing is carried out for 18 months in new central European and French Bordeaux barrels, applying rackings every 4 months.

A great, complex and very expressive wine with a long life ahead of it.