Carlos Serres Gran Reserva Rioja Tempranillo 2016

93 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The very classical 2016 Gran Reserva comes with a very traditional label (they seem to have changed the image of most wines), including the golden wire net. It was produced with a selection of grapes from their El Estanque estate in Haro, a canonical 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. It fermented in stainless steel and matured in French and American oak barrels for two years and was kept in bottle for another three. It has a textbook spicy nose with sweet spices, smoke and toast, berry fruit and herbs, a touch of forest floor and truffles, with a moderate 13.5% alcohol and balancing freshness.

A Rioja pioneer Carlos Serres, who established one of the region’s first wineries in 1896. His namesake is now a family-owned estate whose vines in coveted Rioja Alta vineyards average 30-plus years of age. Each variety in this blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano, and 5% Mazuelo aged separately for 36 months in American and French oak before spending an additional 36 months in bottle.

All the grapes for this wine come from a selection of the different plots of Finca El Estanque, a 60-hectare vineyard planted in 1980 owned by the winery in one of the best terroirs in Haro (Rioja Alta).