Emilio Moro Malleolus de Sanchomartin Rioja 2019 750ml

Malleolus de Sanchomartín represents Emilio Moro's venture beyond Ribera del Duero into Rioja, bringing their meticulous approach to a single vineyard of pre-phylloxera Tempranillo vines. The 2019 vintage showcases these ancient vines at their most expressive, creating a wine that challenges conventional notions of what Rioja can achieve.

The wine presents a deep, opaque purple-black that immediately signals its old-vine concentration. On the nose, Malleolus de Sanchomartín offers profound complexity—layers of black fruit including blackberry, black cherry, and plum mingle with exotic floral notes of violets and lavender. The French oak adds sophisticated notes of cedar, graphite, and sweet spices without dominating. What sets this apart is the mineral complexity from the ancient vines—notes of iron, wet stones, and earth that add gravitas. As the wine opens, nuances of dark chocolate, espresso, and herbs emerge.

The palate delivers an experience worthy of these centenarian vines. The texture is dense and velvety, with incredible concentration that never feels heavy or extracted. Flavors of black fruits, minerals, and flowers flood the palate, supported by perfectly ripe tannins that provide monumental structure. Despite its obvious power, there's elegance here—a lifted quality that comes from high-altitude vineyards and old vines. The oak is expertly integrated, adding complexity without masking the extraordinary fruit quality. Fresh acidity provides balance and ensures a dynamic evolution in the glass.

Malleolus de Sanchomartín stands as proof that Rioja's greatest treasures may still be hidden in forgotten vineyards. The combination of ancient vines, meticulous viticulture, and ambitious winemaking creates something truly special. The finish is extraordinarily long and complex, with waves of fruit, mineral, and spice that continue to evolve. This is wine for the cellar, built to age for decades while already showing magnificently. A profound expression of old-vine Tempranillo that ranks among Spain's finest. For special occasions only.