I was really looking forward to the 2016 Pozo Alto and to visiting the vineyard, which is surprisingly old and large (where he selects the best part for this bottling) and planted with enough space to work with a tractor, as the family that planted it in the 1930s already had a tractor. It combines power and elegance in a rare combination. It feels young and a little closed, and it's serious. Olivier Rivière considers 2016 a year for aging in bottle, as it's a year with high acidity, plenty of tannins and some austere profiles. It fermented destemmed with an unusual blend of 75% Graciano, 20% Tempranillo and some 5% Garnacha. It has a sharp palate, with volume, very fine tannins and great length. It has both modern and classical features, taking the best from both worlds. This is a serious Rioja for the long run. There are 1,800 bottles of this and some large formats.
97 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Issue # 243 - Jun 2019)
I was blown away by the 2016 Pozo Alto, unquestionably one of the finest examples of Graciano I’ve ever tasted. The blend is the standard co-fermented 75% Graciano, 20% Tempranillo, and 5% Garnacha, from vines planted in the 1930s, that was completely destemmed and spent 18 months in demi-muids. This deep purple color Rioja boasts stunning notes of blue fruits, violets, orange blossom, and graphite. This flows to a medium to full-bodied, sensationally perfumed, intense 2016 that has flawless integration in its acidity and tannins, a great mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It’s a brilliant effort to enjoy over the coming 15 years or more.
97 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2019)
Quite savory, stony aromas with ripe plum paste, black olives and black cherries. The palate has smooth, ripe and deep-set tannins that carry a very fresh, gently peppery edge and deliver dark-plum and black-cherry flavors. Really impressive structure and detail. Drink now or hold.
97 points, James Suckling (Dec 2018)
Bright ruby color. An expansive, seductively perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri, spicecake and incense, with an intense mineral overtone building in the glass. Concentrated yet vibrant in character, showing superb delineation and floral lift to its sweet raspberry, blueberry, cola and rose pastille flavors. Becomes deeper and spicier on the gently tannic finish while maintaining urgency and finishes with outstanding clarity and tenacity.
95 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous (Feb 2019)
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