Bodegas Lopez de Heredia

Characteristics of the harvest: Year rated as EXCELLENT. Of the 170 has. in the property of our warehouse, distributed in our 4 farms, in this year 2005 we had 154 has in production. The harvest of 2005 was significantly lower than that of 2004, mainly because the sample of inflorescences in the bud break was a bit lower. The vegetative cycle occurred properly, in good weather conditions with absence of frost, and accidents meteorological remarkable, and only it should be noted that the advancement, about ten days, with the onset of the sprouting continued until the harvest which began the day 24 September in “Viña Gravonia” with the white varieties, the day 27 the same month, in “Viña tondonia estate” for the varieties and ended the day 22 October in “Viña Cubillas”. A strong storm surprised us on the day 12 October and produced this delay with respect to what might determine a start so early. In addition to this delay, so intense rainfall –more than 40 l/m2 in less than an hour– caused damage more important on the ground (drag land, fall of ribazos, flooding of farms and cellars...) in the bunches that were left for harvest, approximately a 20% of the final production, which we could qualify as a very good quality. The grapes came in healthy, with an average grade balanced and good concentration of colouring matter, essential characteristics to create wines with vocation for ageing. Aging in barrel: 6 years old, subject to 2 rackings per year. Clarified with whites of fresh eggs. Production: 250.000 bottles. Pairing: With notes of spices and vanilla from the barrel aging, without realizing the whole bottle just, very easy to drink, accompanies both warm salads with quail or bird, puff pastry, foie gras with a reduction of raspberry jam, as to roast lamb, or suckling pig. In general, with almost everything, it is a wine that is very versatile.