Macán Clásico 2009

The big surprise, with a capital "S", of 2013, is brought to us by two totems of the wine world, Benjamin de Rothschild and Vega Sicilia.  12 years ago they started working together on creating  new winery from scratch in one of the world's most classic wine regions: Rioja.  It is located in San Vicente de la Sonsierra to be precise, where the locals are known by the affectionate nickname of Macanes. The fruit of this project which emerged this year has already surpassed all expectations, as a product boasting such a heavy-weight lineage in its name is always a guarantee of quality. Xavier Ausás and Begoña Jovellar again head the ambitious project that will no doubt lead to a successful conclusion as the characteristics shown so far are outstanding. Congratulations all round.

Appearance

Ruby red color. Very dark. Stains the glass slightly.

Nose

Enveloping. Very fine and elegant. Sweet notes of red and black fruit. Fine oak adding spice to the finish.

Palate

Terrific. Surprising for the elegance and finesse it shows, given its youth. The tannin is delicious. Very fruity aromas and roasted notes. Very long and elegant.  Repetition.

Comment

Good start for this first vintage long awaited by the general public. It does not disappoint. It rises to the challenge of being at the forefront of a region apparently unknown to its "new settlers" and it is clear that it is a "chip off the old block".  In the Selectus Wines tasting panel we like to recognize a job well done and we must admit that we really liked the Macan 2009. Tasted blind, like the others, it stood out markedly more than many of the other wines, obtaining one of the best quorums between tasters since this publication began. There is not much more to add.  It would be silly to miss out on a single bottle of this wine and although it commands respect, the interesting thing about it is that you can enjoy it more often than you think, at room temperature.