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Deep purple in the glass with an immediately expressive nose that can be detected as the wine is being poured. The nose has layers of blackberry, tobacco, mineral and graphite. The wine is dense on the palate as the high viscosity and firm tannin make an impact. As intense as the wine is, the texture is silky and soft with a touch of vanilla in the middle. Balance is exquisite as the tannin immediately yields to a mouthwatering finish that lingers and brings back the many flavors that contribute. French oak is used in an intense yet integrated way as a touch of wood is present from the nose to the finish. Drink now or cellar for 10+ years. 250 cases produced.
 Bodegas Exopto was launched in 2003 in the village of Laguardia by Tom Puyaubert, who is also a cooper, and two longtime friends and fellow rugby enthusiasts, Javier Gomez and David Sampedro. The three friends set out to create wines that capture the potential of Rioja to create modern wines with traditional Rioja grape varieties that have intense color, flavor, brightness and plenty of oak integration. The estate's 15 acres are planted in garciano, tempranillo and garnacha with vines ranging from 30 to 90 years old. As a result of the cool weather at over 2,000 feet above sea level and with old vines, they experience naturally low yields and produce limited quantities of well cared for wine. With long, slow ripening seasons and deep roots, the fruit is of very high quality and complexity. The three grape varieties are blended together to provide fruit flavors (garnacha), freshness (garciano) and structure (tempranillo). In a nod to tradition, the wine is fermented in only oak or concrete, with no steel tanks on site. Bodegas Exopto currently produces three wines: bb d'Exopto, Horizonte d'Exopto and Exopto, its flagship label. Producing three labels allows for flexibility by the team to maintain consistent quality and style vintage after vintage. Both bb d'Exopto and Horizonte are more straightforward everyday wines, while the flagship Exopto is more serious and worthy of several years of aging. Expectations have become very high very quickly for this young winemaking team. As Wine Advocate's Jay Miller put it, "Exopto Cellar's three new releases are all outstanding." He went even further by providing high ratings. Of the eleven wines rated over five vintages, only once did a wine from Bodegas Exopto not rank 90 points or better.
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