What makes this wine unique?

Estate-grown grapes, biodynamic viticulture. Only one wine made. Each variety is vinified separately. Debut 2006 vintage was rated “Best Red Wine of Spain by Enoforum.” A wine that speaks the language of its native terroir in a balanced, elegant manner.

Rating history:

Grape:

40% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Tempranillo. All viticulture is non-certified biodynamic. Twenty-seven hectares (about 67 acres) are divided into four different parcels of Tempranillo, Syrah, Cabernet and Merlot.

Pairing Suggestions:

Though structured, Licinia has a red fruit and herbal character with a juicy, “chewy” texture on the palate that is very easy to drink. It will pair well with grilled beef kabobs, steak and burgers and it has the stuffing to stand up to Indian curry or southwestern “Tex Mex” spices.

Vinification and ageing:

During harvest, the best clusters are brought to the winery in small 8kg boxes transported by refrigerated vans to avoid oxidation. At the winery, the grapes are kept in a refrigerated room for up to 48 hours at 41°F to increase their fresh, expressive aromas. The best clusters and berries are selected. Maceration takes place at cool temperatures for 10-15 days, fermentation occurs in small stainless steel tanks of 3,000 and 5,000-liter capacity. After fermentation, the wine goes into 225-liter barrels where it undergoes malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for 12 months in oak barrels, 95% French and 5% American, of which half are new and half are one year old. The barrels are racked every three months and batonnage, or stirring of the lees to enrich the texture of the wine during aging, is performed during the 12 months of ageing. The wines are not clarified or cold stabilized.

Production:

1,000 cases are made; 150 for the U.S.

Location, Soil, Climate:

The vineyards are located in Zone 7, southeast of Madrid, in the town of Morata, within the subregion of Arganda at about 640 meters (2,100 ft.) elevation. The organically poor soils are clay and limestone and yield small, concentrated grapes with balanced sugar and acidity. For climate, the average temperature from April-October is 64.5ºF with 19.4 inches of yearly rainfall. This southern Continental climate has hot days and cool nights that are crucial for a slower, more balanced ripening process for the grapes.

Tasting notes:

Licinia showcases complex black cherry mineral aromas. On the palate, it exhibits an elegant personality with some underlying structure. Concentrated, spicy and succulent on the palate, the wine shows perfect balance and will age extremely well.

Alcohol Content:

14.5%

UPC Code:

8437009456033