In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryVery Long finish

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

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

The Eguren family's icon Tempranillo from old Sonsierra vines: dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak, one of modern Rioja's prestige reds.

What it pairs with

  • Venison loin
    Dark game meets Amancio'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 family icon.
  • Aged hard cheese
    Crystalline cheese sharpens the mineral finish.

How to serve Amancio

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

Amancio is the Eguren family's prestige single-vineyard Tempranillo from old Sonsierra vines.

  1. 2001 — First Amancio vintage

Facts

Producer
Sierra Cantabria
Grapes
Tempranillo (100%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 18 to 20 months in new French oak
ABV
14.5%
Price
EUR 80 to 140 at retail
Drinking window
8 to 25 from vintage
First vintage
2001

Scores

  • Tim Atkin 95 (2016 vintage, reviewed 2022)

Frequently asked about Amancio

What does Amancio taste like?

On the nose, black cherry, cassis, mocha, violet, mineral. On the palate, concentrated dark fruit, velvet tannin, graphite, savoury. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a very long finish. The Eguren family's icon Tempranillo from old Sonsierra vines: dense, polished and mineral, aged in new French oak, one of modern Rioja's prestige reds.

When should I drink Amancio?

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 Amancio?

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

Is Amancio 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 Amancio?

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

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