El Vinculo, Alejairén, La Mancha, Spain, 2015 by Alejandro Fernández
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Overview of the Wine
Alejandro Fernández’ fourth winery, El Vínculo, sits nearby the iconic Campo de Criptana windmills in the northern part of the D.O. La Mancha and is a tribute to and a continuity of the winemaking tradition of the Fernández family. It is named after his father’s medieval subterranean home cellar in the hills of Pesquera de Duero where, in early childhood, Alejandro accompanied his family for their afternoon merienda, or snack, and an evening full of wine and song. The gathering place was affectionately called El Vínculo, meaning “union” or “link,” and was where Alejandro initially learned to make wine.
After traveling the length and breadth of La Mancha, in 1999 the “Master of Tempranillo” finally found what he was looking for: high-quality, old Tempranillo vines, perfectly adapted to local conditions. Convinced that the quality potential was immense as long as yield and selection were carefully controlled, Alejandro surprised local growers by his new way of working the La Mancha vineyards. By sourcing fruit through long-term contracts with growers focused on low yields and precise harvesting, Alejandro ensures first-rate La Mancha grapes give rise year after year to fine wines with unparalleled wine aromas and flavors.
Across his four bodegas, Alejandro’s only deviation from pure Tempranillo varietal wines is El Vínculo’s Alejairén. Despite the Airén variety being the most widely planted grape in the D.O. La Mancha and in the world, Alejairén was the first barrel-aged 100% Airén wine produced in Spain, proving that Airén can develop rich flavors, complexity and texture, far beyond its usual role as a simple table wine.
Grape / Blend
Airén
Origin
La Mancha, Spain
Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The only white wine made by the Fernández family, Alejairén draws its name from the combination of its creator Alejandro and its grape variety Airén. The 2015 vintage has rich flavors of fresh apricot, vanilla bean, honey and crème brûlée in both the nose and on the palate.
95 Points - Ian Blackburn
"A rich, complex white, that continues to develop; dense gold color and texture; with toasted orange peal, herb and fig spread, butterscotch pudding, this pushes limits and finds exotic space to occupy, thrive and will amaze with an abundance of acidity to carry it for another decade plus. Now at 7 years of age (in 2022), it has achieved a level of integration and manifested its destiny into being a white wine for red wine lovers. Color 14/15 (exotic), Aroma 24/25, Body 24/25, Overall 33/35 - bold, ambitious, and beyond category.
Product size: 750ml
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