Benjamin Romeo Alma 2021 Contador Benjamin Romeo

Tasting Note Benjamin Romeo Alma 2021

In addition to aromas of black cherry and fig, subtle notes of licorice and cacao can be detected behind the fruity nuances. While its high level of maturity, reflected in an alcohol content of 15%, is striking, the Garnacha retains a freshness that runs throughout the mid-palate. The tannins are rich and the mouthfeel is smooth, with the texture of oak still evident. Alma 2021's structure suggests that the fruit and oak flavors will continue to blend even more beautifully over time.

Grape Varieties

Tempranillo forms the base of the Benjamin Romeo Alma 2021: dark fruit, low acidity, and the cedar and tobacco nuances characteristic of Rioja Alta. Garnacha serves to balance the blend, with a small amount added to impart freshness and a light mouthfeel.

Blend:

• 91% Tempranillo
• 9% Garnacha

Cellaring Potential

The firm tannins and concentrated character resulting from the extremely low yield bring out the full potential of the Alma 2021. This wine is best enjoyed by 2034. Serve at 16-18 °C. For young bottles, decant the wine before serving.

About Contador Benjamin Romeo

Benjamin Romeo started in a cave. In 1995 he bought a centuries-old cave cut into the rock beneath San Vicente de la Sonsierra Castle in Rioja Alta, made wine there, and bought vineyards one plot at a time. A cleared-out garage at his parents' house came next, then a purpose-built winery that opened on the 2008 summer solstice, three terraced floors following the slope so fruit and wine move by gravity instead of pumps. Contador Benjamin Romeo's plots are scattered around San Vicente, each one farmed and fermented separately, yields kept very low. Aging runs 18 to 20 months in new French oak, not the American oak Rioja built its name on. Tempranillo leads, alongside Garnacha, Viura, Malvasia and Garnacha Blanca. Alcohol usually lands between 14% and 15%.

Vineyard & Terroir

The Alma wine is made from grapes grown in three distinct plots: La Viña de Andres at the summit, El Bombón midway up the slope, and Diasol at the base. Altitude determines the wine's character. The upper plot contributes power, the middle plot brings minerality, and the lower plot imparts a rounder, more refined character. All of these are located on the slopes of Rioja Alta, which surrounds San Vicente de la Sonsierra; there, iron-rich clay and chalky soils, along with the wind protection provided by Sierra de Cantabria, ensure the stable ripening of Tempranillo.

Winemaking

There is not just one barrel maker, but six. The New French oak used for Alma is sourced from the workshops of six different coopers, which diversifies the nuances of toasting and grain patterns and avoids imposing the personality of a single barrel on the wine. The use of New French oak was originally a departure from local tradition. This is because Rioja built its reputation on American barrels and longer aging in wooden barrels. The building's structure also supports this approach. With three terraced levels arranged along the slope, the fruit and wine are moved by gravity rather than pumps.

Food Pairing: Benjamin Romeo Alma by Contador Benjamin Romeo

Lamb is the natural choice. Fat and salt to contrast with the tannins

• Patatas a la riojana, Potatoes stewed with chorizo
• Aged Idiazábal, Hard, smoked sheep's-milk cheese

Since the protein and fat in these dishes help mellow the tannins in this full-bodied wine, simple sauces are recommended.