Las Norias 2014

The entry-level 2014 Las Norias is a cool-climate Tempranillo from what they consider an excellent vintage, with good natural conditions. This is a Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León from 14-year-old vines on deep sandy granitic soils. The grapes were hand harvested and underwent a four-day cold soak before fermenting with indigenous yeasts and then went through malolactic in new French barriques. They went for a less extractive vinification, and the early harvested allowed them to make a fresher wine. It matured in 300-liter French oak barrels, 25% of them new, for 12 months. It's a clean and balanced Tempranillo with varietal character, contained ripeness and integrated oak. The tannins are fine and the mouthfeel elegant. Pleasant and drinkable. 30,000 bottles and 460 magnums were filled in July 2016.

Hardly a spectacular wine, but appealing black fruit on the nose without any hint of overripeness. Quite a rich red with moderate, dry tannins that are well integrated. Good length. Drink now.