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This was the first historic tasting of Alejairén wine, one of the most special wines of the Familia Fernández Rivera

The Familia Fernández Rivera held its first historic tasting of Alejairén, from bodegas El Vínculo, as part of Madrid Fusión 2024.

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Madrid Fusion is a unique opportunity to find out what is happening in the gastronomic sector, learn about all the latest news and create new culinary connections. In this sense, in the so-called Tasting Room of The Wine Edition, interesting tastings are taking place, such as the one that took place during the first day by the Familia Fernández Rivera group, which organized a historic tasting of one of its most special wines, Alejairén, from El Vínculo winery.

Alejairén is Familia Fernández Rivera’s first white wine, released in 2007. Hence, this first tasting was an exceptional opportunity for wine lovers and gastronomic professionals to discover the richness of this wine.

The tasting was presented by Olga Fernández, director of Bodegas Familia Fernández Rivera; Lucía Pascual, winemaker and technical director of Bodegas Familia Fernández Rivera; and Rodrigo Pons, winemaker and technical director of Bodegas Familia Fernández Rivera.

During the tasting, the attendees were able to taste a total of six Alejairén wines and one of the winery’s latest novelties: Alejairén Tinaja. The Alejairén wine is a white wine with barrel aging, which faithfully reflects the deep-rooted philosophy of the red wines produced in all Familia Fernández Rivera wineries.

First the tasting began with the youngest wine: Alejairén Crianza 2022, an extremely warm year that resulted in a hard wine, but with a lot of citrus, as emphasized by the Fernández Rivera Family. Then a jump was made to the Alejairén Crianza 2020, whose vintage was rated as very good and that resulted in a wine with very interesting notes.

In reference to the Alejairén Crianza 2017, it was a dry vintage, which gave rise to a more rustic wine, with smoky notes that, with time move to more smoky notes with a bit of caramel. In addition, all the aromas are very well harmonized. In the Alejairén Crianza 2013, the passage of time was already clearly perceived, both on the nose and in color, where there was a reduction due to oxidation and the fruits are more ripe. Although it maintains the acidity, the volume is very well integrated, after having extended the time in barrel to 2 years.

Then we moved on to the Alejairén Crianza 2010, where the citrus note is not so marked, there are smoky notes and also spicy notes with the barrel. The sweetness is lost a bit, but the wine is gaining complexity and seriousness.

Finally, this historic tasting ended with the jewel in the crown, the Alejairén Crianza 2007. It was the first vintage to be released on the market and it is very rare to taste a white wine of this age. It is striking that it still retains the citrus notes. Undoubtedly, it is a wine to taste and enjoy quietly.