Mirto by Bodegas Ramon Bilbao

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

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

Palate: dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury

The house's prestige old-vine Tempranillo: dark, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak, the flagship of the Haro estate.

What it pairs with

Chuleton de buey a la brasa Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
Char-grilled beef matches the firm tannin and mocha oak.
Venison loin
Dark game meets the cassis-and-graphite density.
Aged Manchego
Hard cheese balances the structure.

How to serve Mirto

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 a la brasa, Venison loin, Aged Manchego. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Mirto is the house's prestige old-vine Tempranillo, the flagship red.

1999 — First Mirto vintage

Facts

Producer: Bodegas Ramon Bilbao
Grapes: Tempranillo (100%)
Classification: DOCa Rioja
Oak: Around 20 months in new French oak
ABV: 14.5%
Price: EUR 30 to 55 at retail
Drinking window: 8 to 22 from vintage
First vintage: 1999

Scores

Tim Atkin 93 (2017 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Frequently asked about Mirto

What does Mirto taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, cassis, mocha, cedar, mineral. On the palate, dark fruit, fine tannin, graphite, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. The house's prestige old-vine Tempranillo: dark, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak, the flagship of the Haro estate.

When should I drink Mirto?

Drink 8 to 22 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Mirto?

Chuleton de buey a la brasa is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Venison loin and Aged Manchego. Char-grilled beef matches the firm tannin and mocha oak.

Is Mirto 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 Mirto?

The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Mirto