Bodegas Amaren, El Cristo De Samaniego, DOCa Rioja Alavesa, Spain, 2020

Producer Profile

Jon Cañas (Luis Cañas’ grandson) is the imaginative winemaker behind Bodegas Amaren, having been given free rein to explore the character of Alavesa’s vineyards.

Jon aims to create a raw, modern interpretation of Rioja Alavesa by employing native yeasts for his ferments, and experimenting with concrete vessels and lees ageing to achieve expressive wines that are respectful of the ancient grape varieties he works with. The hierarchy of the Amaren range ignores the traditional classification of Rioja wines (Crianza, Reserva, Gran Reserva) and instead puts ‘Rioja Alavesa’ at the forefront of the label, thereby emphasizing the importance of place.

Viticulture

A singular Vineyard in Samaniego at the foothills of Sierra Cantabria al 625m altitude. Soils are made up of sand and limestone.

Winemaking

Upon entering the bodega, bunches are carefully selected before being de-stemmed so the individual berries can be sorted based on their weight. Grapes are pre-macerated at 8ºC for five days. Only the most perfect grapes are allowed to pass to wooden vats of French oak for fermentation, which lasts seven days. The resulting wine is then racked to new French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation, during which the lees are pumped over periodically. The wine is later clarified with egg white to obtain a well-rounded wine with excellent oak integration. A total of 12 to 14 months in French oak from a selection of oak forests in central France and some American Oak and 32% in concrete vat.

Tasting Note

Cherry red, the fine elegant and complex nose gives way to excellent concentration of black fruit and subtle touches of creamy oak as well as hints of roasted coffee and minerals. This is full bodied, fleshy and elegant with plenty of complexity and power.

Food Matching

Red meats, stews, game, cured cheeses and different types of blue fish.

Awards