Siglo Vino de Autor 2001 Fernandez de Manzanos, Rioja

A surprisingly fresh, delicate and fruity Rioja given its age, the secret behind Siglo is that following three years in old oak it has been carefully stored in an old concrete tank underground until bottling recently. This concrete storage means the wine has retained vigour, red fruit flavour and brightness with virtually no oaky flavour. Creamy, supple and soft, this offers a unique take on modern Rioja and an opportunity to try something that is 20 years old at a brilliant price.

The wine is showing more fruit (a good thing) and less of the oaky character than many would expect from a Rioja. Bodegas Manzanos took an unusual step in making this wine by storing it in concrete (after barrel ageing) until 2021 when it was bottled. This retains vibrancy and freshness, rather than the savoury flavours associated with more classic Rioja. 

This is a perfect match for a Lamb dish!