Alvarez家族與 Rothschild 家族瑞士分支的Benjamin de Rothschild 自2004年起, 花費 10 年時光所打造出的高品質酒款。酒莊設立在 Samaniego 村東北, 人稱「San Millán」處,形狀為狹長的矩形,西南角沿展如「鳥喙」狀,往北是坎塔布里亞山脈(Cantabrian),往南則靠近埃布羅河 (Ebro) 河谷,遠處則可看到 Ezcaray 山脈。由Vega Sicilia 家族主導葡萄園的管理,在 Rioja
Alavesa 買下擁有 25 到 80 年樹齡的葡萄園土地,共約 120 公頃。釀造上遵循 Rioja 地區的古老釀製傳統希望能再次證明 Rioja 的經典風格。本系列酒款絕對是別出心裁的大師級手筆。
WA: 93 Drink: 2022-2027
2017 was a very challenging year, as most of their vineyards in San Vicente de la Sonsierra in Rioja were affected by frost, unlike others in nearby Laguardia. Not only was it frost, but they also had hail later on in the season. Quantities suffered—they told me they lost 70% of the crop in Rioja that year—but they were happy about the quality of the 2017 Macán, being very careful with the fermentation and separating the press wine by quality. The 4,000-liter oak foudres helped to polish the tannins, and they used 50% new barrels. The élevage lasted 16 moths. It's a little riper than the Clásico from 2018 that I tasted next to it, with a little more alcohol (14.5%) and mellow acidity. It's clearly a weaker vintage, and the wine shows it: the fruit is a little ripe and shows some tiredness, like it's evolving at a faster pace. It has abundant, slightly rustic tannins. 40,400 bottles, 2,566 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in September 2019. Quantities reflect the low yields.
