2017 El Rapolao
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Tasting notes
Shimmering ruby. Ripe, spice-tinged blackberry, cherry cola, licorice and pungent floral qualities on the deeply perfumed nose. Densely packed red and dark berry liqueur and violet pastille flavors are lifted and sharpened by a jolt of smoky minerality, and a licorice note emerges with aeration. Concentrated as well as energetic in style, finishing with superb persistence, building tannins and lingering spice and floral notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
I was impressed by the 2017 La Vizcaína El Rapolao, but the warm vintage was very good for a warmer vineyard like El Rapolao. This is hands-down my favorite of the 2017s from La Vizcaína, the wine that shows more freshness. It's harmonious and perhaps was harvested a little earlier than the others. Like the other wines from the range, this 2017 has more color than the 2018, as well as more power and a little more concentration, and it's also denser than the 2018, with tannins that are grittier and a little drier. But if I didn't have the 2018 next to this, I would only be praising it, because the 2017 is truly impressive, all in place and simply one step up in power and all the rest to keep the balance. 10,000 bottles were filled in May 2019. This is a late-budding vineyard, and it didn't suffer the effect of the spring hail from the year.