Bodegas Valdemar Conde de Valdemar Edicion Limitada 2020

Drink it now or cellar for up to 25 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. Located in the heart of Rioja Alavesa, Bodegas Valdemar is a winery with a long history. The Martinez Bujanda family's winemaking business began in 1889 with Joaquín Martínez Bujanda, and today the company, world-renowned for its pioneering spirit, is led by Jesus and Ana, the fifth generation. Produced in fewer than 8,000 bottles, Conde de Valdemar Edicion Limitada is a blend of Tempranillo, Maturana, and Graciano, selected and hand-picked from some of the estate's most renowned vineyards (La Recaja for the Tempranillo, Balcón de Pilatos for the Maturana, and Las Seis Alhajas for the Graciano). After vinification, the finished wine ages for over two years in French and American oak barrels (60% and 40%, respectively). In the glass, the wine reveals a deep, bright color with dark cherry tones. Its aromatic profile is fragrant and broad, with initial notes of ripe dark fruit, followed by balsamic and spicy hints, and a final touch of tobacco and licorice. On the palate, it is soft and silky, concentrated and round, with good structure and lively acidity. Tannins are smooth, and the finish is long and slightly saline. It pairs very well with mushroom risotto, roasted porcini mushrooms, and aged cheeses.