This is a one-of-a-kind Rioja. In the mid 1980’s the Canas family received permission from the appellation to plant an experimental vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is not a varietal that is allowed in the blend of Rioja, except when coming from this vineyard and being made by this producer. Now we see these grapes blended in other regions in Spain but there is something very special about this combination. It could be the age of the vines, almost 40 for the Cab and over 50 for the Tempranillo, but the real reason is the clay limestone soils of Rioja Alavesa. The wine was aged for 20 months in mostly new oak barrels, a 50/50 mix of French and American oak. This is Classic Rioja with a subtle Bordeaux twist. This does everything you want a Reserva to do but with a little more structure and a deeper more complex aroma and flavor profile. This really is a mix of Rioja and Bordeaux! Dark red fruits backed by earth, spice, and leather with a subtle graphite and tobaccos note. This is a full-bodied, wine with lots of presence but neither the oak nor the Cabernet dominate the wine, everything is composed, it just is a little fuller and deep. This wine has a great finish where the darker earthier elements of the Cab lift the more vibrant Alavesa Tempranillo fruit. It makes you wish that there were more wines like this...