Product Overview
Winery's Notes:
"Prado Enea grapes are always the last to be harvested. It is a matter of careful selection of vineyard plots at altitude with grapes of fine quality, located in the northwest corner of the Rioja Alta, in the villages of Sajazarra, Cellorigo and Fonzaleche.
The grapes ferment in oak vats. Maceration is for 14 to 16 days. Following this the wine spends a minimum of 36 months ageing in French- and American-oak casks, to give it greater complexity. At the end of this period of ageing, the wine is lightly fined using fresh egg whites before bottling and then remains in our cellar for at least a further 36 months in order to complete the ageing process by providing elegance to the wine.
Prado Enea Gran Reserva 2016 has a black-cherry colour with medium depth. On the nose we find an elegant collection of forest fruit (blackberries) with spices like cloves and cinnamon. It has a silky-smooth attack with medium body and a very long, pleasant passage through the mouth. We find velvety tannins in perfect harmony with its fresh and well-integrated acidity. You can also find creamy and vanilla notes mingling with fresh fruit.
This wine goes well with casseroles, meat dishes and cheeses and can even be enjoyed on its own, with nothing to accompany it."
Varietal Composition: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano (percentages not specified)
Appellation: Rioja DOC
Aging: Minimum of 36 months in French and American oak casks, followed by 36 additional months in bottle prior to release
97+ Points - Wine Advocate
"The expressive, complex and nuanced 2016 Prado Enea Gran Reserva is a textbook traditional Rioja in the making. 2016 was a very elegant year, with aging potential, volume and very good acidity and freshness. It's full-bodied but fine-boned, has 14.5% alcohol, a pH of 3.6 and 5.25 grams per liter acidity. It has terrific balance, with all the components in the right proportion to age superbly in bottle. They have also been working on the selection of wood used. This wine matured in French and American oak barrels for three years, and the oak is super integrated. 127,808 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2020. It was an exceptional year with volume and quality." -LG, 2/29/24
97 Points, "Cellar Selection" - Wine Enthusiast
"Deep ruby in color, this wine has a nose of cocoa powder, coffee bean, lavender and cherry. It is smooth at first sip, with tannins that slowly build in volume and then drift away to reveal black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, mint and orange-zest flavors. The brilliant finish is marked with a floral note. Drink through 2036." -MD, 7/1/24
96 Points - Vinous
"Aged in barrel for 36 months, the 2016 Gran Reserva Prado Enea is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano from Rioja Alta. This dark garnet wine reveals thyme, plum and sour cherry notes, accompanied by reductive nuances of matchstick and saffron. Additionally, it displays hints of biscuit, wax and dried flowers. On the palate, it is dry, supple and chalky, with a juicy, energetic flow that leads to a long-lasting, complex finish. While the leaner style brought on by the cold vintage may appear slightly unsubstantial for Prado Enea lovers, it remains absolutely delicious." -JH, Dec/2023
