Alberto Orte is among the best and most prolific winemakers in Spain. He works all over the country, collaborating for some wines, making others by himself. For this fun-loving Rioja, he's taking fruit from a high elevation site in Rioja, planted to sandy limestone and clay soils at almost 2000 ft elevation. The wine spends a year and a half in French oak, offering a subtle touch of baking spice that doesn't hog the spotlight. The nose offers classic notes of black cherry, cassis, and dried tobacco alongside clay earth and aromatic herbs. The palate starts with ripe cherry, cinnamon spice, and nutmeg, all framed with long, silky tannins that land on an echo of dried fruit and incense. This is a wine for lovers of traditional Rioja and newcomers alike, perfect for an upcoming barbecue