Wine Bajo Crianza 2004 (Toro)

Bajoz was founded in 1962 by eight farmers who recognised the great potential of the land in TORO. Until 1997 the winery was directed by an increasing number of local farmers and distribution was limited to the local market. However, 1997 marked the arrival of a new, young and energetic management team to work alongside the growers. After starting a 5 year development plan and modernising the company's philosophy, the renown and success experienced locally spread nationally and internationally to over 30 countries.
Leading wine estates from the more established regions of Ribera del Duero and Rioja have jumped on the bandwagon and started to build their own wine cellars in Toro. Locally established Bajoz has maintained its position at the forefront of innovation and quality, with substantial investment in state of the art winemaking equipment, and vineyard management. Bajoz's new approach to winemaking and his passionate young team, ensure a continued improvement and sustained success.

Today the winery is owned by 142 farmers (grape growers), who together control a third of all the region´s grapes, making Bajoz the largest winery in the up-and-coming Toro region. The winery currently produces almost 5 million litres of wine, and has a total capacity of 6 million litres. A vigorous selection takes place both in the vineyard and in the winery to make sure that only the finest quality is bottled under the BAJOZ brand.
2000 saw the completion of a new winery, which houses the most modern wine making equipment, and includes an underground barrel cellar at a depth of 6m's and a capacity of up to 3000 barrels. The bottling line has been renovated to complete the whole process. Still in construction are a series of underground tunnels to store small lotes of special, tiny production wines. 8 old cement fermentation tanks from the 1960´s located outside are to be converted into a restaurant featuring hard to find older Bajoz vintages and show casing the regions best cuisine. International chefs will also be invited for the first week of every month.

The location of our vineyards (1050 hectares yielding on average 27hl/h) in the lower valley of Ribera del Duero reduces the risk of spring frosts and healthy cultivation techniques allow for reliable harvests. The vineyards have an average age of 50 years although many are over 100 years old. The members of the cooperative supply 100% of our grapes, which are still all hand-picked, to assure a consistent high quality raw material. Each vineyard is highly controlled by our vineyard management team.

BAJOZ COSECHA 2006

GRAPE: 100% Tinta de Toro
OAK: 6 months in new American oak
HARVEST: End of September
COLOUR: Red

VINIFICATION: Temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel at 28ºC for 23 days. Cool initial maceration.

VINE AGE: 40 to 60 years old

TASTING NOTES: A perfect example of how Spain has changed! This wine is unmistakably Spanish but with modern flavours. On the nose, it is intense and clean with notes of vanilla, toast, mature berry fruits and liquorice. On the palate, well structured & fleshy with notes of fruit and oak and a long, long finish. Big, bold and complex.

AGEING POTENTIAL: The perfect blend of fruit and new oak means this wine can be drunk on release or put down for up to 8 years.

Awards

Size: 75 CL.
Alcohol: 13.5%Vol.