Rioja DO Macán - 2018

The Macan cuvée is the fruit of two great wine traditions: the Bordeaux tradition of Benjamin de Rothschild and the Spanish tradition of Domaine de Vega Sicilia. With the Rioja appellation, the Macan cuvée was first produced in 2013, following 12 years of preparation and dreaming. The architecture of the cellars for this wine is most original: divided into three small independent cellars, but superimposed in height, following the slope of the land. The construction respects the landscape without hindering it, in order to reduce the environmental impact and carbon emissions as much as possible. They have even been given names: the "Water" cellar (production), the "Earth" cellar (ageing) and the "Sun" cellar (delivery). Gonzalo Iturriaga is the cellar master selecting with skill and talent the grapes that will be destined for the prestigious vintage.

The single grape variety of the Macan vintage is Tempranillo and is spread over a myriad of small plots representing 90 hectares in the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra. The vines are about 40 years old at a height of 500m. The viticulture is sustainable and the grapes are harvested by hand. Fermentation takes place between barrels and vats and the wine is aged in mostly new extra-fine grain French wood barrels for a period of 15 months.

With its brilliant cherry red colour, the Macan Cuvée has a sensual and complex nose around notes of balsamic, creamy spices, fresh blackberries, plums and vanilla. As it ages, the nose becomes even more powerful with notes of truffles and mocha. On the palate, it is round and powerful, with coating tannins that bring intensity and length. The Macan cuvée has an ageing potential of twenty years and can be enjoyed with pigeon pastilla, tapas, artisanal charcuterie (pata negra) or roast lamb.

The emblematic cuvée combines elegance and power, a symbol of the Rothschilds' Bordeaux know-how and the Spanish tradition of Vega Sicilia. It is the product of a unique style in a prestigious land. The result lives up to their expectations.