Real de Asúa Rioja 2015

Another gap here, with no 2013 or 2014 made, and a return that marks a key moment in the evolution of the wine. Red cherry and raspberry fruit, focus on sculpted fresh flavours with a deft weaving through of buttery leather and clove spice. Gentle extraction, where the structure builds slowly and effortlessly. This feels like it will age in a similar style to the 1994. Vialba village brings freshness to the blend of Imperial, and you see it in the natural balance of Real de Asua (still not able to write the single vineyard name on the label, incidentally, because the winery isn’t in the village where the vines are located – an issue for the Haro-based producers).