Calvario by Finca Allende

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, spice

Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, mineral, fresh

A single-vineyard old-vine red from a steep Briones plot; structured, mineral and fresh, the estate's terroir flagship alongside Aurus.

What it pairs with

Chuleton de buey Find chuleton de buey on TableJourney →
Aged-beef chop frames the fine tannin and dark fruit.
Venison loin
Dark game meets the structured mineral frame.
Aged Manchego
Hard cheese balances the grip.

How to serve Calvario

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. Chuleton de buey, Venison loin, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Calvario is a single old-vine plot at Briones, the estate's site-driven prestige red.

1996 — First Calvario vintage

Facts

Producer: Finca Allende
Grapes: Tempranillo (90%), Garnacha (7%), Graciano (3%)
Classification: DOCa Rioja
Oak: Around 20 months in new French oak
ABV: 14.5%
Price: EUR 70 to 120 at retail
Drinking window: 8 to 25 from vintage
First vintage: 1996

Scores

Tim Atkin 94 (2017 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Frequently asked about Calvario

What does Calvario taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, plum, violet, graphite, spice. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, mineral, fresh. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A single-vineyard old-vine red from a steep Briones plot; structured, mineral and fresh, the estate's terroir flagship alongside Aurus.

When should I drink Calvario?

Drink 8 to 25 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Calvario?

Chuleton de buey is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Venison loin and Aged Manchego. Aged-beef chop frames the fine tannin and dark fruit.

Is Calvario 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 Calvario?

The blend is Tempranillo (90%), Garnacha (7%), Graciano (3%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Calvario