Ramon Bilbao Rioja Gran Reserva 2016 vs Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Compare current tracked prices, stockists and core specifications. Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 currently starts £0.11 lower.
| Availability | In stock | In stock |
|---|---|---|
| Best current price | £25.96 | £25.85 |
| Current stockists | 1 merchant | 1 merchant |
| Producer | Ramon Bilbao | Spier |
| Style | Red | Red |
| Grape | Tempranillo | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Region | Rioja | Stellenbosch |
| Country | Spain | South Africa |
| Size | 750ml | 750ml |
| Where to buy |
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Ramon Bilbao Rioja Gran Reserva 2016
' Ramon Bilbao is a renowned Spanish winery based in Rioja, known for producing high-quality wines that blend tradition with innovation. Established in 1924, the winery specializes in crafting elegant, complex wines, with a focus on Tempranillo grapes. Their top-tier wine, Mirto, is made from old vines in select vineyards and is produced only in exceptional years, reflecting the excellence and craftsmanship that define the Ramon Bilbao legacy. The vineyards are over 60 years old and located in Rioja Alta, in the villages of Ãbalos (Caramonte) with sandy soils, and Labastida (Carrapacina) with sandy and alluvial soils. The grapes were selected for their specific acidity and pH, ensuring longevity. The grapes were cold macerated for 4 days, followed by controlled fermentation for 16 days. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in concrete tanks, aged for 30 months in 225-liter American oak barrels, and then spent 48 months aging in the bottle. The 2016 season had a very cold winter and a rainy spring, with flowering starting 15 days later than usual. A hot, dry summer helped finish the growing season, leading to a high-quality harvest. The harvest began in the third week of September, and the vintage was rated ''Very Good'' by the Regulatory Council. '
Spier 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
' As a proudly South African winery dating back to 1692, the 21 Gables range pays homage to Spier's winemaking heritage of more than 300 years. The 21 architecturally significant gables remain preserved on the estate to this day. Prominent since the latter part of the 19th century, Cabernet Sauvignon has traditionally been used in crafting some of South Africa's most prestigious reds. Admired for its adaptability, today, it is the country's most widely planted red grape. The 21 Gables Cabernet Sauvignon offers an elegantly wooded expression that is big, bold and magnificently flavourful. The Cabernet Sauvignon vines are grown along the west north-westerly-facing slope of the majestic Helderberg - the southern side of Stellenbosch. Besides an expansive view of the False Bay coast, the vineyard is treated to a cooling Atlantic ocean breeze, encouraging slow ripening. While conditions can be windy at altitude, the decomposed granitic soil features clay in the subsoil, which aids in moisture retention and promotes even ripening. This results in small berries concentrated in flavour and tannin. WINEMAKING The key to an excellent red wine is attention to detail. Once the grapes were handpicked and destemmed in the cellar, they were individually sorted to ensure only the best coloured and sized fruit were selected. Fermentation occurred in stainless-steel fermenters for 24 days with an extended skin maceration of 15 days. The free-run wine was then barrelled down into 70% new French oak barrels for 26 months. Barrel selection was done to make the perfect blend of the original single vineyard site. In my experience, a great wine comes from a vineyard with a great view. Grown on the last farm before the peak of the majestic Helderberg, this Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful yet elegant. Think terrific fruit, a full body and ripe, well-integrated tannins - it's the whole package. The best part is that it is just beginning to open and show secondary nuances. Cellar it, and you wi
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