Abadia de San Quirce 2015

The house uses 50% American oak barrels and 50% French oak barrels. Same proportions as cult producer Vega Sicilia. It produces balanced wines where the American oak does not overpower the pure fruit. Bodegas Imperiales Reserva is aged for 18 months in old and new casks, although the minimum requirement for cask aging is only 12 months. The house chooses to age the wine for a longer time, as the grapes come from some of the oldest vines. The must is therefore more "dense" and needs extended storage to develop just the right character and complexity.