Don Jacobo Gran Reserva: the soul of Rioja wine
At Bodegas Corral, each vintage is a declaration of intent. And if there is a red wine that condenses all the character of our land, that is undoubtedly Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017. A classic that, far from remaining anchored in time, speaks with force at the current table. Today we want to share with you what is behind a label that is already history among the wines of La Rioja.
A tribute to time
Making a Rioja wine with the category of Gran Reserva is not a one-day task. Nor is it a year. We are talking about a long wait, about the patience that transforms the must into pure elegance. And in the case of Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017, it is made only in the most exceptional vintages from a careful selection of old Tempranillo vineyards with a slow and balanced maturation to then, after a traditional fermentation, age a minimum of 36 months in 225-liter French and American oak barrels and then another 12 months, at least, in bottle before release. The result: a red wine with history, depth and character.
See Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017 in store
Our variety: the character of Tempranillo
If there is one grape that defines the soul of the great wines of La Rioja, it is undoubtedly Tempranillo. In Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017, we bet exclusively on this variety, convinced that its natural balance and structural elegance are enough to shape a great red wine for cellaring.
Tempranillo, native to our land -you can learn more about its history and characteristics here-, offers the perfect combination of fruit, acidity and tannicity. This innate harmony makes it the ideal candidate for long aging, where it gains depth without losing freshness.
In our vineyards in the Rioja Alta, this variety expresses itself nobly. The Atlantic climate, calcareous soils and moderate altitude allow us to harvest grapes with a slow and balanced ripening. This gives rise to the serene but vibrant character of this Rioja wine: a red wine that does not need blending, because it already has everything.
A harvest that is done by hand and with head
At Bodegas Corral we do not understand any other way of harvesting than with our hands. We select our clusters at the foot of the vineyard, in the highest areas of the Rioja Alta, where ripening is slow and the climate gives us a natural acidity that is pure gold for wines for cellaring. This manual harvest is the key to ensuring that the fruit reaches the winery in one piece, without oxidation or damage that could affect its potential.
We work with environmentally friendly practices, committed to sustainability and respect for what the land gives us. Because we are convinced that the best Rioja wine begins long before the grapes are harvested.
Vintage 2017: the origin of a red wine with character
The 2017 vintage was not just another in the history of Rioja wines. It was a year that put us to the test from the beginning, but we knew how to read it with patience and perspective. A late frost, one of those that leave their mark, devastated a good part of the lowest and most advanced areas of the appellation. There, production was practically non-existent. However, in the higher areas, where many of our old vineyards are located, the vine cycle was more delayed… and that difference was key.
We opted to wait. We harvested in cool plots, where the Tempranillo retained a vibrant acidity, and where the loss of yield due to the frost resulted in more concentrated, more expressive clusters. It was a scarce harvest, yes, but exceptionally qualitative for those of us who knew how to listen to what the vineyard was telling us.
This is how this red wine for cellaring was born: from grapes with structure, freshness and complexity. Because 2017 was not the best year for making young wines. It was, however, a perfect year to create a great Rioja wine with a long-range vocation.
Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017 shows all that in every glass: ripe red fruit, soft spices, echoes of tobacco and a silky, almost oily texture that envelops the palate and gives it volume. A direct reflection of a tough year, yes, but also a noble one. One of those that make history in the winery and in the memory of those who taste it.
Classic workmanship, modern soul
Our winemaking process follows the classic guidelines that have made the wines of La Rioja a world reference. Temperature-controlled fermentation, long and gentle macerations to extract color and structure without damaging the fruit.
But where the character of Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017 is really forged is in the aging. We use a combination of American oak barrels (which contributes notes of vanilla and coconut) and French oak (finer, with spicy touches). During these three years in barrel, the wine breathes, evolves and refines.
It then spends another three years in the bottle, where oxygen works in silence. The result is a red wine with notes of ripe fruit, sweet spices, leather, tobacco and a balsamic background that makes it unmistakable.
See Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017 in store
Pairings that make history
We know that talking about red wine is also talking about the table. And if there is one thing Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017 has, it is versatility when it comes to pairing. It is not only an ideal companion for red meats and traditional roasts; it also shines with game dishes, legume stews, cured cheeses and even more innovative proposals, such as an Iberian prey tataki or a mushroom risotto.
Its elegance also makes it an excellent after-dinner wine. A Rioja wine that invites to conversation, to reminiscence, to toast without haste.
Tradition and innovation in every glass
To talk about Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017 is also to talk about the balance between tradition and innovation. Because yes, we respect the legacy of classic Rioja winemaking, but we also know that the market demands honest, transparent and modern wines.
That is why our website, bodegascorral.com, is designed so that anyone who wants to learn more about our wines from La Rioja can do so easily. We want to bring the world of Rioja wine to new generations, without clichés or unnecessary technicalities.
Rioja: one origin, a thousand stories
We could not talk about red wine without proudly mentioning the appellation that welcomes us: Rioja. An area that is much more than a wine-growing region: it is culture, landscape and way of life. If you want to go deeper into what this origin means, we recommend this reading: Rioja in Wikipedia.
Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017 is, in the end, a way of understanding this land. A wine that looks to the future without forgetting where it comes from. It breathes tradition but speaks in modern language.
Rioja: one origin, a thousand stories
We know that in a market with so many options, choosing a good red wine is not always easy. But we also know that there are bottles that, on their own, tell a story. And that is what we propose with Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017: an experience that goes beyond the sensory, that connects with the memory, the landscape and the emotion of sharing.
Because in the end, that is what we are at Bodegas Corral: bottled storytellers. And this, without a doubt, is one of our favorites.
Want to try it for yourselves? Here it is, ready to come home: Don Jacobo Gran Reserva 2017 – Bodegas Corral online store.