Hacienda Solano Viñas Viejas 2018

<strong>2019 > 93 puntos

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The old vines are a great cushion against vintage variation, as seen in the serious, restrained and moderately ripe 2019 Viñas Viejas that was cropped from a warm and dry year. This comes from selected plots that are over 70 years of age and where the Tempranillo is intermixed with some 2% white grapes that also make it into the fermentation vat. The grapes were picked between September 19th and 22nd and fermented by soil (marl, sand and clay). This year, they shortened the time in barrel (500 liter ones) to eight months, and then the wine was transferred to concrete to complete an élevage of some 19 months. It's a little more powerful than the 2020; and the main difference is the quality of the tannins, which are a little grainier and dustier here, as the parameters are quite similar to those of the 2020 I tasted next to it. 21,830 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2021.

2018 > 94 puntos

The 2018 Viñas Viejas follows the path of the 2016, floral and elegant. It comes from old vines in the village of La Aguilera, and it fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 500-liter oak barrels and eight months in concrete. The wine shows very good precision and definition and is clean, aromatic and elegant, with great balance. It has the profile and character of the wines from yesteryear. From this vintage onward, they only use larger barrels for the élevage, and the oak feels better and better integrated. A Ribera of grace. 23,223 bottles and 347 magnums produced. It was bottled in April 2020.