2019 Sierra Cantabria Finca el Bosque Methusalem (5 liter)

The 2019 Sierra Cantabria Finca El Bosque Methusalem (5L) is a rare, single-vineyard Rioja crafted for collectors, special occasions, and long, graceful aging. Drawn from less than 1.5 hectares of old vines, it showcases a remarkable balance of power and finesse in an impressive large-format bottle. As one of the flagship wines from the renowned Eguren family, Finca El Bosque has become a modern benchmark for contemporary, terroir-driven Rioja.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2019 Finca El Bosque is intensely deep and opaque, with a dark garnet core and a vibrant violet rim that hints at its youthful energy and concentration. The nose is layered and refined, opening with pure black fruit—blackberry, blackcurrant, and ripe plum—wrapped in notes of graphite, cocoa, vanilla pod, and fine toast, with subtle hints of licorice, violets, and warm spice. On the palate, this is a full-bodied yet impeccably poised Tempranillo, combining dense, juicy black fruit with stunning freshness. Silky, “velvet” tannins frame flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and wild berries, supported by well-integrated oak that brings nuances of sweet spice, cedar, mocha, and a touch of roasted coffee. The acidity is vibrant and perfectly judged, lending lift and precision to the long, persistent finish, where notes of vanilla, dark chocolate, and black fruit linger. In Methusalem format, this wine has exceptional aging potential—easily 15–25 years or more from vintage, evolving toward truffle, leather, tobacco, and dried flowers while retaining its core of fruit and elegance.

Production
Finca El Bosque is a tiny, prized vineyard of just under 1.5 hectares in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, high in Rioja at around 500 meters above sea level. The terroir is dominated by calcareous clay soils strewn with gravel and small rounded stones, providing excellent drainage and forcing the vines to root deeply, resulting in naturally low yields and great concentration. Planted in 1973, the vines are farmed sustainably, with organic fertilization every two years and viticulture that respects the natural biorythms of the plant. Harvest is entirely manual, and bunches are not mechanically destemmed; instead, each berry is meticulously hand-selected and hand-destemmed to guarantee absolute precision and purity. The grapes undergo a cold pre-fermentation maceration at 8 °C for five days, followed by fermentation in French oak barrels at 28 °C using native yeasts selected from the estate’s own vineyards. Skin maceration lasts no fewer than 23 days, extracting depth, color, and fine tannin. The wine is then aged for 18 months in new Bordelaise oak barrels (95% French, 5% Central European), allowing it to gain complexity, texture, and aromatic finesse without losing its remarkable freshness.

Food & Serving
This 2019 Finca El Bosque Methusalem is a natural match for richly flavored, protein-driven dishes: think slow-roasted lamb shoulder, dry-aged ribeye, Iberico pork presa, venison with wild mushrooms, or oxtail stew. It also pairs beautifully with truffled dishes, aged Manchego or Comté, and hearty dishes with rosemary, thyme, or smoked paprika. Serve at 16–18 °C (60–64 °F), and for a large-format bottle like this, allow ample time for aeration: decant at least 2–3 hours before serving in generous Bordeaux-style glasses. As the wine opens, its structure softens, the fruit becomes more expressive, and the complex layers of spice and minerality fully unfold.

Producer
Sierra Cantabria is one of Rioja’s most respected family-owned estates, led by the Eguren family, whose winemaking roots in the region stretch back several generations. Based in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, they have been instrumental in redefining Rioja as a land of distinctive vineyards and terroirs rather than just blends, focusing on meticulous viticulture and low-yield, high-quality fruit. Their top single-vineyard wines, such as Finca El Bosque, are consistently lauded by international critics and collectors alike, often earning some of the highest scores in the region. With a philosophy that marries tradition—hand harvesting, careful selection, and respect for Tempranillo—with precise, modern cellar work, Sierra Cantabria has secured a place among the elite producers of Rioja and of Spain as a whole.

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