Museum Vinea Artis Crianza, Cigales 2016
| Producer | Finca Museum |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Cigales |
| Wine Type | Red Wine |
| Body / Style | Soft & Supple, Rich & Savoury, Full-Bodied Red |
| Grape Blend | 100% Tempranillo |
| Bottle Size (ml) | 750 |
| % Abv | 14 |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Extra Info | Complex Rioja alternative |
| Food Pairing Guide | Great with a rack of lamb or chops |
| Terroir | Layers of gravel, sand, limestone and chalk over clay and sand |
Museum Vinea Artis Crianza is from a lesser known region of Spain called Cigales. A real gem though, with ripe red fruits, dark cherries and plums, layered with cocoa, vanilla, and toasted coconut. The ripe tannins give the wine a velvety, structured feel and the finish is smooth and long. A delicious Rioja alternative.
Consistent rainfall through spring ensured the soil water content was high coming into the dry season. This was fortunate as summer brought 120 days without any rain which was only broken with light rainfalls at the start of September. These timely conditions meant the vines remained in perfect health without any disease pressure. Harvest began on October 6th.
Finca Museum is based in Cigales, a small DO located in Castilla y León, east of Valladolid. Although the area was once known for its dry rosados, it is the Tinta del País, a thicker skinned Tempranillo, that excels today. The continental climate of Cigales (with temperatures reaching 40°C in the summer, even at 700 metres above sea level) and the soils poor in organic matter combine to ensure low yields and great wines. The vines are on average 40 years old and one of the reasons they have survived is because the soils are too poor to grow other crops such as cereal. As the name suggests, the winery is also a museum, with sculpture and paintings dating back to the 17th century.
