Downloads
Bottleshot - Shelftalker 2017-Vinous.pdf - Shelftalker-2018-Suckling.pdf - Shelftalker-2022-Suckling.pdf2022 Vintage
88pts
2018 Vintage
92pts
2017 Vintage
89pts
Denominacion de Origen
Vino de la Tierra de Castilla
Location
Vineyards located in D.O. Manchuela, D.O.Ca. Rioja, and D.O. Toro
Varietal
100% Tempranillo
Vineyards
Dominio de Eguren leases vineyards and controls viticulture under long term contracts in D.O. Manchuela. This fruit is blended with estate grown young vineyards from Rioja & Toro.
Year(s) Planted
1980-2010
Viticulture
Certified organic viticulture at leased vineyards in D.O. Manchuela and young estate vineyards in D.O.Ca. Rioja and D.O. Toro. Vineyards planted on high density trellises to reduce yields.
Soils
Calcareous clay soils in Manchuela and Rioja, extremely poor, sandy soils in Toro
Climate
Continental climate with Mediterranean and Atlantic infuences
Winemaking
Eight hour cold soak in stainless steel prior to fermentation. Fermentation is inoculated with yeasts selected and cultured from their vineyards and cellar. The wine is cold stabilized and lightly filtered.
Aging
The wine is bottled young to protect freshness and aromatics.
Comments
The Eguren family produces Protocolo, one of the world's best value wines, from vineyards in Manchuela, Rioja, and Toro. They lease vineyards on long term contracts from farmers in Manchuela who grow Tempranillo on the limestone rich soils at high altitudes in this southeastern corner of Spain. The oldest vineyards are 35 years old, grown sustainably, and dry farmed. These conditions reduce yields and result in incredibly balanced but fruit forward Tempranillo. The Eguren family also blends 10-15% of the wine with young estate grown vineyards in Rioja and Toro, which are planted with massal selections from the family's best estate grown plots. For the first 10-15 years of these vineyards' lives, they are used for Protocolo before they graduate into the estate wines of Rioja and Toro.