after the Secularisation under Napoleon the Eymael family bought the estate on an auction in Paris from the French state
The soil is limestone with high chalk content influenced by alluvial states
making it lovely to drink now with the capability to age in the cellar for decades
The fruits are well structured with some smoky earth characters along with a graphite minerality and herbal nuances
Per Patrick’s blog entry: “For dessert
Marques de Tomares - Rioja Reserva 2017 (750ml) Dao after the Secularisation under NapoleonAn unusually warm Spring led to early bloom, followed by a dry, hot summer. Zero rainfall was recorded from July to October. Most producers, particularly in lower lying regions like Baja, were in desperate need of rain in September, and were forced to pick early to avoid loss of acidity and raisinated fruit. The higher elevation, old vine sites performed well if picked in early October. The best wines of the vintage balance dark fruit with acidity,