Viñedos Sierra Cantabria Rioja Mágico 2021 (750ml) *
Product price
$985.99
Description
Field blends, where red and white varieties grow intermingled and are picked and fermented together, are an old-world approach that Rioja has largely left behind, which makes this bottling from Viñedos Sierra Cantabria in Rioja Alta something of a throwback. The 2021 Mágico draws on very old vines and pulls together as many as eight grapes, led by Tempranillo (around 65%) and Garnacha (about 20%), with a small share of Graciano and a scattering of others, plus a handful of whites (Calagraño, Turruntés, Viura) woven in. Fermented in oak and matured in a mix of barrels and larger foudres, it reflects a site that its makers describe as unusual for reasons that only reveal themselves in the glass.
The nose is floral and expressive, almost intoxicating, with cherry and darker currant fruit shading into violets, wild herbs, resin and a note of cola. There is a stony, mineral edge underneath. On the palate it is full-bodied but poised, with round, layered, seamless texture and tannins that feel polished rather than grippy.
Product Details
| Category | Wine |
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Subregion | Rioja Alta |
| Varietal | Rioja Red Blend |
| Producer | Viñedos Sierra Cantabria |
| Vintage | 2021 |
| Size | 750 ML |
| Subtype | Still |
Expert Reviews
The 2021 Mágico really is magical, as well as mysterious, nuanced and fresh, with great elegance and complexity. It has a bright ruby color with some shy orange tints. It comes from a complex field blend of up to eight grape varieties, red and white, planted in a very special place. In 2021, they reckon the varietal breakdown could be something like this: 65% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 2.5% Graciano, 1% Petit Bouschet and 1.1% other red varieties (Alicante Bouschet, Monastrell, Bobal....) and 4.4% Calagraño, 3.2% Turruntés and 2.8% Viura for the whites. It fermented destemmed by hand in oak vats and matured in 225- and 500-liter oak barrels. All varieties are picked together, except the Garnacha, as they usually have to wait for that. The wine has a floral and expressive nose, explosive, intoxicating, complex and nuanced with really elegant and polished tannins. There is great complexity on the palate also. This is a really great wine. The price tag is something else... 1,800 bottles were filled in January 2024. (Wine Advocate, February 2025)
The 2021 Mágico is the result of a revelatory moment. The first time grapes from this vineyard were made into wine, Marcos Eguren recalls that it was unlike anything they had made before. “It was something magical,” he said, and thus the wine’s name was born. The site, perched on the shoulder of a mountain in San Vicente de la Sonsierra, looks unremarkable at first glance, but the mixture of vines makes it unique. The blend reflects these proportions: 65% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, 4.4% Calagraño, 3.2% Turruntés, 2.8% Viura, 2.5% Graciano, 1% Petit Bouschet and 1.1% others. Aged in oak and foudres , the 2021 has a layered aromatic profile, with floral and herbal tones, cherry, plum, resin, cola and wild herbs. On the palate, it channels energy and emotion, bringing out the soul of an old vineyard with the clarity of a modern interpretation. This distinctive, unique expression is intensely distinctive, yet unmistakably Rioja. (Vinous)
The 2021 Sierra Cantabria Mágico comes from incredibly old vines planted just after phylloxera and is composed of 60% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, and a handful of other varieties. Ripe black cherries, darker currants, spring flowers, violets, and hints of crushed stone define the aromatics, and this beauty is full-bodied, has a round, layered, seamless mouthfeel, plenty of background oak, and a sensational finish. It offers pleasure today yet should have 20-25 years of longevity. (Jeb Dunnuck, July 2024)