2019 Paganos El Puntido Magnum

The 2019 Paganos El Puntido Magnum is a powerful, single-vineyard Tempranillo from the cool, elevated hillsides of Rioja Alavesa. Sourced from over 45-year-old vines on the fabled Puntido vineyard, this is a deeply structured, age‑worthy red that balances intensity with remarkable finesse. In magnum format, it becomes not only a showpiece on the table, but also an outstanding choice for extended cellaring and special occasions.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, El Puntido shows a dark, almost opaque garnet core with bright, ruby reflections at the rim, signaling both concentration and youth. The nose is layered and complex: mineral and stony notes meet ripe blackberries, black cherries and dark plum, wrapped in aromas of liqueur, cocoa and dark chocolate. As it opens, more unfolds—subtle white flowers, hints of leather, grilled toast, and a touch of black berries and kirsch. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and powerful yet beautifully composed, with a seamless balance between ripe, dark fruit and fine-grained French oak. Flavors of black cherry, blackberry compote, licorice and cocoa are supported by round, polished tannins and a fresh, mineral backbone that speaks clearly of its high-altitude origin. The finish is long, savory and persistent, with lingering notes of spice, toasted bread and stone. Already enjoyable now with aeration, this magnum has the structure and concentration to evolve gracefully well beyond 2030, gaining further complexity and silkiness over time.

Production
The Puntido vineyard covers about 25 hectares at roughly 600 meters above sea level in Rioja Alavesa, on calcareous clay soils with a deep, sandy, stony subsoil that forces the vines to dig deep for water and nutrients. Planted in 1975 at high density, the old Tempranillo vines yield very small quantities—around 18.2 hl/ha, roughly half the permitted yield—resulting in great concentration. The viticulture is fully organic, with biological fertilization every two years and all work carried out with respect for the vine’s natural biorhythms. Harvest is done entirely by hand in late September, with meticulous selection of only perfectly healthy, ripe grapes. A three‑day cold pre‑fermentation maceration at about 6 °C with native yeasts from the estate precedes fermentation, which lasts around 10 days at 28–30 °C, followed by a post‑fermentative maceration of about 8 days for optimal extraction. Malolactic fermentation takes place in new French oak barrels, where the wine then ages for approximately 16 months, followed by 6 months in stainless steel and around one additional year of bottle aging before release—roughly three and a half years after harvest.

Food & Serving
This is a gastronomic red that shines with rich, refined meat dishes: think roasted or grilled lamb, dry-aged beef, slow-braised short ribs, venison, or Iberico pork. It also pairs beautifully with truffle dishes, mushroom ragouts, roasted root vegetables, and hard or semi-hard cheeses such as Manchego, Comté or aged Gouda. Serve at 16–18 °C to showcase its aromatic complexity and balance. Given its youth and structure, decanting for 1–2 hours is highly recommended—especially from magnum—to allow the wine to fully open and reveal its many layers.

Producer
Viñedos de Páganos is one of the jewel estates of the renowned Eguren family, long regarded as one of the leading names in Rioja for terroir‑driven, high-end wines. Located in Rioja Alavesa, Páganos was conceived as an estate dedicated to expressing individual vineyards of exceptional character, with El Puntido standing as one of its flagship sites. The Eguren family has been instrumental in elevating Rioja’s reputation for single-vineyard, low-yield, meticulously crafted wines that combine traditional know-how with a modern, precise approach to viticulture and vinification. Their commitment to organic farming, strict yield control and careful, long aging in French oak has earned their wines a strong following among collectors and sommeliers, and firmly established Viñedos de Páganos as a benchmark for premium Rioja reds.

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