Granbazan D Alvaro de Bazán

Tasting sheet: Granbazán Don Álvaro de Bazán 2014, D.O. Rías Baixas, Galicia, Spain

The 2014 harvest was primarily characterized by a decrease of 30% in volume throughout the Rías Baixas appellation. Despite the significant decline in production the harvest was marked by the Atlantic character of this vintage, due to the moderate temperatures during most of the year, between 15ºC and 30 °C throughout the vegetative stage of the plant.

During the winter, there were some early and short frosts before shooting, with no consequences for the plants. Flowering has been characterized by a very fast and uniform season, under ideal weather conditions, with no rain and average temperatures of 20ºC to 25ºC. The rains during the growing season helped a proper and balanced bunch development.

The harvest took place in late September with total absence of rain. The harvest was long and homogeneous, giving time to the elated bunches to get the appropriate ripening levels. The fruit is hand-picked, with bunch and berry selection on sorting table to ensure optimally ripe and healthy fruit.

Winemaking process: The grapes without stems are submitted to a cold maceration between 6 and 8 ºC for 8 hours, in order to extract all the aromatic potential from the solid parts (pulp & skins) of the grape. Gentle must extraction by means of gravity.  The alcoholic fermentation takes place at low temperatures (≤20ºC) in stainless steel tanks during approximately 3 weeks. The finished wine remains in those stainless steel tanks for 12 months on fine lees after racking off the gross lees after the alcoholic fermentation. Bottle aging 6 months before release.

Limited release of 5466 bottles of 75 cl. Great evolution until 2021.

Beautiful brilliant golden colour. Grass, lemon drop, orange peel, a touch of spice and fresh pineapple. Great balance between fresh acidity and lees-aged texture, which also provides richness, and long aftertaste. Granitic grippy  in the mouthfeel, along with grassy, sea breeze and mineral aspects.