In the glass
Aroma: black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral
Palate: concentrated dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury
Miguel Angel de Gregorio's icon red from old Briones vines, aged in new French oak; dense, polished and mineral with great longevity.
What it pairs with
-
Venison loin
Dark game meets Aurus's concentrated cassis and graphite. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A char-grilled beef chop for the estate icon. -
Aged hard cheese
Crystalline cheese sharpens the mineral finish.
How to serve Aurus
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Venison loin, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Aged hard cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Aurus is Finca Allende's icon red from old vines at Briones, aged in new French oak.
- 1996 — First Aurus vintage
Facts
- Producer
- Finca Allende
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (15%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 24 months in new French oak
- ABV
- 14.5%
- Price
- EUR 90 to 160 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 30 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1996
Scores
- Tim Atkin 95 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Aurus
What does Aurus taste like?
On the nose, black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral. On the palate, concentrated dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. Miguel Angel de Gregorio's icon red from old Briones vines, aged in new French oak; dense, polished and mineral with great longevity.
When should I drink Aurus?
Drink 10 to 30 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Aurus?
Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Aged hard cheese. Dark game meets Aurus's concentrated cassis and graphite.
Is Aurus vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Aurus?
The blend is Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (15%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.