Marques de Caceres Gaudium Gran Vino 2019

Marqués de Cáceres Gaudium Gran Vino 2019 is an exceptionally sophisticated, limited-production Super-Premium Rioja red wine that is only crafted during outstanding vintages. Sourced from a collection of very old, low-yielding parcel selections (averaging 70 years old, including a tiny pre-phylloxera plot exceeding 120 years of age) in the premier subregions of Rioja Alta and Rioja Alavesa, this wine undergoes meticulous vinification before aging for 18 months in brand new French oak barrels and refining for a minimum of 2 years in the bottle. In the glass, it displays a deep, dense ruby color with garnet reflections. The nose is remarkably complex and deep, revealing intense aromas of ripe black plums, wild blackberries, and fresh cassis, intertwined with underlying notes of cocoa powder, sweet spices, tobacco, freshly ground espresso, and a hint of minty oak. On the palate, it is full-bodied, structured, and muscular yet elegant, presenting fine-grained, mealy tannins, vibrant food-friendly acidity, and mineral undertones that carry through to an incredibly long, polished, and persistent finish.

Food Pairing: Pairs elegantly with rosemary-spiced roasted lamb, grilled prime ribeye steaks, roasted suckling pig, or aged Manchego cheese with sweet fig compote.

94 Points - James Suckling