95+
PARKER
EL BOSQUE ESTATE 2023
Stew
Meats
Cheese
Sausages
Description
Finca El Bosque 2023 is one of Spain's most exclusive and coveted wines, made by the Eguren family through their Viñedos Sierra Cantabria winery in San Vicente de la Sonsierra (La Rioja). A cult wine born from a single, unique plot, representing the ultimate expression of Tempranillo in the DOCa Rioja.
The Finca El Bosque is a unique plot of just 1.48 hectares, planted in 1973 on a steep alluvial slope 50 meters above the Ebro River at an altitude of 500 meters in San Vicente de la Sonsierra. The soils are calcareous clay with an abundance of gravel and rounded stones on the surface, over a limestone-rich subsoil that retains moisture in this poor, well-drained terrain. The vineyard is entirely organic and dry-farmed, with selective biodynamic practices, high-density trellised planting, and no mechanization. Organic fertilization takes place every two years following the plant's biorhythms, and the harvest is exclusively manual, berry by berry, with manual destemming and rigorous selection of every grape at the winery entrance.
Made with 100% Tempranillo, the winemaking is carried out with extraordinary precision and care: pre-fermentation cold maceration to preserve the aromas. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts in open 1,000-liter French oak vats. Total maceration for 21 days. Malolactic fermentation in new French and Central European Bordeaux barrels. 18 months of aging in new French and Central European oak Bordeaux barrels, with racking every four months. Only 5,000 bottles produced in the 2023 vintage.
Of intense, bright cherry color. On the nose, complex and highly expressive: pronounced emphasis on high-quality toasted oak notes, ripe black fruit—blackberry, cassis, plum—an unmistakable mineral background, graphite, black spices, and a touch of cocoa and incense. On the palate, it is powerful, warm, and flavorful, with still-pronounced oak tannins that promise great evolution in the bottle, generous volume, and a very long, elegant, and mineral finish. A modern Rioja with a powerful profile that seduces from the first sip and improves significantly over time.
Aging potential until 2040-2045. Decant at least 1 hour before serving. Serving temperature: 17-18°C. Ideal for big game, grilled red meats, grilled roast lamb, aged cheeses with great personality, and haute cuisine dishes.
