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Bodegas y Viñedos del Marqués de Vargas is undoubtedly
one of the most impressive cellars in Rioja today. Situated
just outside Logroño in a privileged part of DOC Rioja,
it has a superb and ultra-modern winery that produces wines
only of the very highest quality from grapes grown in vineyards
that are known as ‘La Hacienda de Pradolagar’
and belong to the family of the Marqués de Vargas.
They border those of the Marqués de Murieta and the
Marqués del Romeral, an area popularly known as ‘Los
Tres Marqueses’. The 65-hectare estate, where the family
has been growing vines for four generations, carries on the
old Rioja tradition of the ‘bodegas de hacienda’
in which the wine is produced exclusively from the grapes
grown on the family Estate. The location of the property in
the heart of the Ebro valley enables it to enjoy both Atlantic
and Mediterranean influences, long hours of sunshine, low
rainfall not exceeding 400 mm per year and protection from
the westerly winds, ideal conditions for growing Tempranillo,
Mazuelo and
Garnacha.
Absolute
priority is given to fruit quality. The vines receive no irrigation
and only natural fertilisers are occasionally applied - herbicides
or pesticides are not used. The vineyards are pampered as
if they were gardens! Pruning, vital for good fruit, takes
place first in winter to enhance fruit production and then
again in summer once the vegetative cycle is under way. Fruit
thinning and the removal of leaves are also carefully carried
out. These cultural care operations reduce the yield to around
4,000-5,000 kgs/hectare, the optimum yield to permit the grapes
to reach the alcohol content, acidity and tannin structure
for optimum processing and ageing in oak casks. No effort
was spared to build a processing plant with all the latest
technical innovations and ageing halls where the wines could
rest in wood and bottle under ideal conditions. The production
is limited and is used exclusively for red Reserva wines.
We
are their appointed UK agents and are pleased to offer Ex
cellars the 2005 vintage, classified an “exceptional
year” for the Marqués de Vargas Reserva and Private
Reserva, and the 2004 vintage for Hacienda Pradolgar, as well
as some earlier vintages available in bond at Octavian for
the latter two wines: 1998, 1999 and 2000.
NEW!
Click on the underlined grape varieties
for more information.
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