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Castillo de Cuzcurrita Winery Guide

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Winery Overview

The remarkable Rioja wine estate Bodegas Castillo de Cuzcurrita in the small Riojan pueblo of Cuzcurrita has emerged as one of the new-wave benchmarks of the region. This historic property eschews local traditions in favor of a thoroughly modern and yet respectful approach to winemaking. Legendary oenologist Ana Martín Onzain, alongside the winery’s director general Juan Díez del Corral, has shown the tremendous character and individualism that can be wrought from 100% Tempranillo red wines. Unlike many of her neighbors, Ana Martín does not rely on other red varieties in these wines, instead preferring to bring Tempranillo to its fullest and finest expression.

Castillo de Cuzcurrita is a contradiction in the region, a relatively new name in modern Rioja production that boasts a history dating back to the 14th century. The medieval castle dates from the late 14th and early 15th centuries, with successive links to the Rojas and Suárez de Figueroa families before passing to the Velasco-Rojas line. Subsequent generations kept control of the castle and its beautiful surroundings until the last century when it changed hands several times. However, in 1945 Castillo de Cuzcurrita caught the eye of the wealthy Sáinz de Incháustegui family, who quickly restored the then-dilapidated buildings and made the castle their stately home. In 1999 the estate entered its modern phase under the Bergé family group. The first vintage followed in 2000, and the purpose-built winery beside the castle opened in 2005.

Today, the range extends well beyond the original pairing of Señorío de Cuzcurrita and Cerrado del Castillo, with Tilo, Blanca del Castillo and Ecológico joining them. Señorío de Cuzcurrita remains the principal Tempranillo bottling, but aficionados will find particular interest in the rarer Cerrado del Castillo, produced only in exceptional years from old bush vines inside the castle walls. Both Cerrado del Castillo and El Tilo de Castillo de Cuzcurrita have been recognised by DOCa Rioja as Viñedos Singulares.

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Author

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With a passion for food & drink that verges on the obsessive, wine writer James Lawrence has traveled the world in search of the perfect tipple. To date, nothing has surpassed the 1952 R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Rioja Reserva, tasted in the cobweb-filled cellars with owner María José. Meanwhile, James has written for a wide variety of publications, including The Telegraph, Decanter, Harpers Wine & Spirit, The Drinks Business, and Wine Business International. He lives in South Wales and returns to his former university city, Bilbao, as much as possible.

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