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Baron de Magaña

Baron de Magaña

Barón de Magaña an estate-bottled wine made by Bodegas Viña Magaña in the Navarra DO, just northeast of Rioja. Spanish wine aficionados who consider Navarra strictly a source for bulk wines would do well to reflect on what owner Juan Magaña has accomplished. Thirty years ago, Juan had a vision. After researching the best wines in the world, he decided to grow Bordeaux grapes in Navarra. He bought Merlot cuttings from a nursery that sold to famous châteaux in St. Emilion and Pomerol, most notably the hallowed Château Pétrus. A pioneer in Navarra, over the years Juan’s bodega has become a reference point for quality in the region. The 100-hectare (247 acre) estate is located just south of the Ebro River. With a focus on the Merlot grape, Barón is the most serious of the winery’s lower-end bottlings. At once, Baron shows power and bright flavors with no green characters, with a structure that is integrated and harmonious. The southern district of Navarra has limestone that imparts characters of minerality and acidity that are unique to this place. Of the varieties grown on the estate, Merlot is best able to capture the minerality of the soil

What makes this wine unique?

All estate-owned fruit, limestone soil, Pétrus clones of Merlot and Cabernet. Unique microclimate. Bordeaux-like wines with good acidity. The Merlot portion of Barón precisely expresses the mineral character of the soil of this special vineyard.

Rating history:

2007 90IWC; 2005 90+RP; 2004 90RP; 2003 91RP

Grape:

35% Merlot (planted in 1975), 35% Cabernet Sauvignon (planted in 1976), 20% Tempranillo (planted in 1989) and 10% Sirah.

Pairing Suggestions:

This wine pairs very well with most baked or roast fowl, softer cheeses without too much fat. Unusual but successful pairings include clean-flavored seafood with a hint of sweetness, such as simply prepared grilled calamari, sea bass or brook trout.

Vinification and ageing:

Each variety is vinified separately in 228-liter Burgundy capacity barrels. For fermentation, 15% whole clusters are retained. The wine is aged for fourteen months in two-year-old French oak barrels.

Production:

2,300 cases are produced; 750 for the U.S.

Location, Soil, Climate:

Zone 4, at an elevation of 399 meters (1,309 ft.). The vineyards are just 400 meters from the Rioja border south of Alfaro. Of the five districts in Navarra, Ribera Baja, where Magaña is located, is unique compared to the other districts because of its limestone bedrock and unique microclimate. The winery is located in the town of Barillas. The vines are trained in the Guyot double cordon system. For soils, thick river stones sit atop solid limestone bedrock. The climate is classified Zone 4, Continental and Mediterranean. In short, it is warm and dry. Magaña’s temperatures from April-October average 63.7°F with levels of rainfall of 14.6 inches during the same period. The microclimate of the Magaña vineyards imparts a hearty character to these wines, making them richer, beefier and vibrant with bright acidity, all of which helps them age for many years!

Tasting notes:

Vivid ruby-red. Sexy aromas of cherry-vanilla, red berry preserves, sassafras, dried rose and fruitcake. Supple red and dark berry flavors are complicated by anise and Asian spice notes and firmed by supple tannins. Thecherry and floral notes cling on the aftertaste with impressive tenacity.

Alcohol Content:

14.5%

UPC Code:

810411011614