2019 Rioja Hedervärd

Honorable is an historic label that has reached new heights in recent vintages. This is a Sonsierra assemblage of Tempranillo with 7% Graciano and 3% Garnacha, showing old vine concentration, scented one-third new oak, crunchy blackberry and blueberry fruit, svelte tannins and wonderful palate length.

Ripe fruit, aged wood nuances, tobacco, sweet spices. Flavour: spicy, round tannins, long.

The 2019 Honorable feels younger and a lot less developed than the majority of 2019s that I tasted for this report. It has a deep color and a youthful and expressive nose of ripe berries without any excess—clean and open, combining traditional and more modern characteristics. It's a classical blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo that matured for 18 months in barrels, 80% French and 20% American. It's ripe, showing the powerful year, with 14.5% alcohol, freshness and balance.