Hacienda el Ternero Seleccion Crianza 2016, Rioja

Hacienda el Ternero is a privileged enclave in the heart of Rioja, this limited edition wine is made from 100% Tempranillo grapes. The "Selección" Crianza spends 14 months in French oak barrels.

It shows a deep ruby colour in the glass, with notes of violets and fresh herbs on the nose. The palate is soft with black cherries and plums combined with balsamic, liquorice, black olive and toast notes from the time spent in oak.

Overall, a fresh acidity perfectly balances this concentrated and complex wine. This is the ideal Spanish wine to drink with roasts, such as pheasant or lamb. It also makes an excellent match for strong cheese.

Hacienda el Ternero

Hacienda el Ternero dates back to 1077 AD, when it belonged to the Santa Maria de Herrerea Monastery. The chapel still remains in the estate to shelter the patron saint, la Virgen de la Pera.

The village is part of the administrative area of Castilla y Leon as the church sold the land to the state at the beginning of the 19th century. Despite this, the wine is classified as Rioja under the DOC regulations as geographically it falls well within the Rioja boundaries.

The Bodega takes its name from the village of El Ternero where it is located. The village used to have just 156 people living there. In the 1960`s the entire village was sold to three Basque families who planted vineyards to sell grapes to large producers.

In 2009, the current owner bought the village and launched the new brand of Hacienda el Ternero. Their 60 hectares of vineyards are in one of the highest areas of Rioja and sit at an altitude of 650m.