El Vínculo Crianza

DO La Mancha

With a great dedication to quality control, Alejandro has made sure the wines he produces at El Vínculo, from the estate’s founding in 1999, are unique gems of D.O. La Mancha, where quantity often overshadows quality.

Tasting Notes

Made from a thicker-skinned variety of Tempranillo indigenous to the La Mancha region, called Cencibel. COLOUR: A black cherry colour with a purple rim. Clean and brilliant. NOSE: Expressive, concentrated aromatics on the nose with ripe fruit such as blackberries and plums coming to the fore against a subtle backdrop of liquorice, one of Tempranillo’s typical characteristics. Its 18-month stay in American oak barrels has integrated aromas of vanilla and cocoa. PALATE: A wine that has body with fine-grained, well-integrated tannins. The entry is fruity and fleshy. The mid-palate is full with good volume, while the finish is long and pleasant with hints of sweet spices and toasted notes such as toffee and cocoa.

Food Pairings

Grilled red meat, small game birds and ground game, such as partridge and hare.

Vintage Notes

A rainy, very cold winter provided favourable conditions for the vines’ dormant period as well as for the build-up of water reserves in the soil. Spring began in cold weather but reached normal temperatures as the season advanced. Very rainy conditions first set in at the end of winter and persisted throughout spring right up to the beginning of summer. The cold caused a slightly late bud-break, but the rain enhanced available soil moisture for the vines. Mild temperatures then arrived in summer as normal seasonal weather set in, followed in September by higher than average temperatures. The growing season’s high rainfall led to a generous-sized crop while the overall lower than average temperatures resulted in a late harvest. However, the very fine weather conditions in September enabled the grapes to successfully complete their ripening.

Winemaking Notes

De-stemming of the bunches followed by fermentation in stainless steel vats. The wine was aged 18 months in American oak barrels, then 6 months in bottle.

Vineyard Notes

DESCRIPTION: Situated at an altitude of between 750 and 650 metres on semi-ﬂat land sloping north to south and south facing. SURFACE AREA: 52 Hectares. AGE: Average of 50 years. SOIL: A mix of sand and clay throughout the land.

Technical Info

100% Tempranillo Alcohol 14.5%

Tasting Notes

Made from a thicker-skinned variety of Tempranillo indigenous to the La Mancha region, called Cencibel. COLOUR: A garnet colour with a ruby rim. Clean and bright. NOSE: Deep aromas of black fruits mingling with notes of liquorice. Sweet vanilla hints come through with notes of roasted coffee beans, brought by the wine’s stay in American oak barrels. PALATE: Fruity on the entry to the palate with black fruits coming to the fore followed by notes of roasted coffee beans and liquorice. Good volume on the palate underpinned by sufficient tannins and acidity to give the palate power and good length of flavour.

Food Pairings

Grilled red meat, small game birds and ground game, such as partridge and hare.

Vintage Notes

The winter began with low temperatures; however, as from February a weather pattern set in which would continue throughout the rest of the year: spring temperatures well above average, spells of extreme heat in summer and a very warm autumn. As for rainfall, this was a very dry year, with around half of the average precipitation. These mild conditions led to a very early bud-break, while subsequent vine vegetation growth was sluggish because of the low water reserves in the soils. This resulted in vines with few bunches that were small in size, as were the berries. This consequently had a positive influence on the ripening process. The vine cycle continued well ahead of schedule and led to a very early harvest which produced a small crop that was ranked as excellent in quality.

Winemaking Notes

De-stemming of the bunches followed by fermentation in stainless steel vats. The wine was aged 18 months in American oak barrels, then 6 months in bottle.

Vineyard Notes

Technical Info

100% Tempranillo Alcohol 15.5%

Tasting Notes

Made from a thicker-skinned variety of Tempranillo indigenous to the La Mancha region, called Cencibel. APPEARANCE: Garnet with a ruby edge, clear and bright. NOSE: Elegant on the nose, with ripe black fruits such as plums, cherries and dark morello cherries standing out. Notes of vanilla, roasted dried nuts, coffee and a balsamic touch. PALATE: Pleasant entry and unctuous to the palate. With mature tannins and a persistent ﬁnish of balsamic and spicy licorice.

Food Pairings

Grilled red meat, small game birds and ground game, such as partridge and hare.

Vintage Notes

2016 started out with a dry winter which was warmer than usual. Spring was colder and wetter than usual, particularly March and April, which coincided with the bud break, favouring the early stages of the vines’ growth. Summer—which was hotter and drier than usual and with a particularly intense heat wave from late August to early September—led to a decrease in the size of the berries and a delay in ripening as well as harvesting. There was no rain during the ripening and harvesting period, which is why the sanitary quality of the grapes was very satisfactory.