Bodegas Campillo 57 Selección Especial 2018 is an exceptional Rioja Gran Reserva, crafted as a tribute to the fourth generation of the Martínez Zabala family. This wine hails from Rioja Alavesa, combining Tempranillo from old vines with Graciano from a small plot in Oyón. With 24 months of aging in French oak, 10,715 numbered bottles, and a gold medal at The Rioja Masters 2024, this is a powerful and refined Rioja for lovers of long, complex red wines.
Bodegas Campillo is located in Laguardia, in Rioja Alavesa, at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria.
• Location / Origin: Campillo 57 comes from Rioja Alavesa, a cooler part of Rioja with distinct day and night temperature differences. These conditions help the grapes ripen slowly, resulting in freshness, structure, and aromatic depth.
• Vineyards: The Tempranillo comes from the best small plots of the El Monte estate in Laguardia, with vines over 60 years old at an altitude of over 700m. The Graciano comes from a small plot in Oyón, also in Rioja Alavesa.
• Altitude: The main Campillo vineyards are located on the southern slopes of the Sierra Cantabria, between 650 and 720m in altitude. Due to this altitude, temperatures are 3 to 4 °C lower than the average in Rioja.
• Harvest: The grapes are hand-harvested into 15 kg crates. This allows for careful selection and prevents damage to the fruit before it reaches the cellar.
• Production: Of Campillo 57 2018, 10,715 numbered bottles were produced. This underscores the exclusive character of this Selección Especial.
The winemaking of Campillo 57 is precise and layered, with separate processing for Tempranillo and Graciano.
• Cold Maceration: The grapes first undergo 4 days of cold maceration at 4 °C. What does cold maceration do? This technique helps extract color, aroma, and fruit flavors from the skins before alcoholic fermentation begins.
• Fermentation: Tempranillo and Graciano are fermented separately. This allows each grape to be processed at its own pace and later precisely blended.
• Malolactic Fermentation: The Graciano and half of the Tempranillo go into new 225-liter French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation after alcoholic fermentation. This rounds out the acidity and gives the wine more texture.
• Aging / Oak Maturation: Afterwards, the other half of the Tempranillo is added, and the wine ages for 24 months in French oak barrels. This long maturation imparts notes of vanilla, toast, balsamic, spices, and dark chocolate.
• Alcohol Percentage: At 14.5% alcohol, this Rioja has sufficient power, while fresh acidity and soft tannins provide balance.
The 2018 vintage is made from Tempranillo and Graciano, without exact percentages confirmed by available sources.
• Tempranillo – Rioja Alavesa: Tempranillo forms the core of the wine, providing ripe red fruit, black cherry, structure, and a smooth, classic Rioja style.
• Graciano – Rioja Alavesa: Graciano brings freshness, color, spiciness, and extra tension to the finish. Especially in Rioja, this grape is often used to give blends more depth and aging potential.
