In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryVery Long finish

Aroma: black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral

Palate: concentrated dark fruit, velvet tannin, graphite, savoury

The estate's icon red from very old vines cropped to just three bunches per plant; dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak.

What it pairs with

  • Venison loin
    Dark game meets the 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 Hiru Racimos

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. 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

Hiru Racimos, meaning three bunches, comes from very old vines pruned to just three clusters each, the estate's icon.

  1. 1994 — First Hiru Racimos vintage

Facts

Producer
Bodegas Luis Canas
Grapes
Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (15%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 20 months in new French oak
ABV
14.5%
Price
EUR 60 to 110 at retail
Drinking window
8 to 25 from vintage
First vintage
1994

Scores

  • Tim Atkin 94 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Frequently asked about Hiru Racimos

What does Hiru Racimos taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral. On the palate, concentrated dark fruit, velvet tannin, graphite, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. The estate's icon red from very old vines cropped to just three bunches per plant; dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak.

When should I drink Hiru Racimos?

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 Hiru Racimos?

Venison loin is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Aged hard cheese. Dark game meets the concentrated cassis and graphite.

Is Hiru Racimos 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 Hiru Racimos?

The blend is Tempranillo (85%), Graciano (15%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Tags

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