Score: 96+/100
This wine is the ultimate expression of the Bodegas Luis Cañas know-howm their most iconic and expensive wine.
It is a selection of grapes coming from old vines, each bearing 3 bunches or less hence its name: 3 Racimos (meaning 3 bunches in Spanish). Each berry therefore received the maximum attention and concentration from its mother vine. A vine is generally able to carry easily 6 to 15 ‘baby bunches’.
After fermentation, the precious baby wine is aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak wine barrels.
How just how good does this Luis Cañas as Hiru 3 Racimos taste?
The answer is in the tasting notes
The wine comes in a dark, very dark red color, still with some purple hues amplifying its intense color despite it being a seven years old wine!
The nose is extremely deep, ripe, and intense. So many layers hit your senses it’s overwhelming!
But let’s decompose:
It does have a huge fruit-bomb element to it as part of its aromatic profile: dark cherry liqueur, dried figs and apricot, blackberry jam, some apricot and mango. All the ripe berry and also tropical fruits seem to be in there, it’s almost confusing.
Beyond the fruit are a lot of spices and oaky tones that let themselves smeel generously: vanilla, wood smoke, clove, nutmeg and all the Christmas spices come through so balanced, none overpowering the others!
But what about the palate?
On the same vein, there is an enormous lot going on in this wine in your mouth.
The sheer weight of it is simply stunning!
Massive body and tannins, but the whole feels very smooth and controlled. Yes, it has a fruit-bomb element to it, but it adds so many layers of complexity it doesn’t feel like one.
In addition, the acidity here is very solid. Although this is a very ripe, alcoholic and powerful example of a wine, the whole is well balanced by such a strong acidity as well!
This gives it an elegant and approachable edge not many wines at that level of concentrated achieve.
The finish is quite long and layered, yet despite its 7 years old, this seems to be such a baby of a wine, it has a long way to go to reveal its full potential.
Overall
This 2009 Luis Cañas 3 Racimos tastes like a baby of a wine… with super powers!
There is so much controlled and natural strength in this 3 Racimos just waiting to be expressed it is overwhelming and almost feels super-natural.
This wine that feels like being a little shy baby still although being a 2009, hits you hard with punches of very ripe berries, some tropical fruit, floral elements and a wealth of oaky uppercuts, one wonders what it will become once a grown up?
When to Drink?
This super-powered baby has such a potential to develop it will probably age superbly for decades.
Give it at least 5 years to settle down, mature, and think about everything it’s got to say.
I won’t be surprised to taste it in 20 years in Rioja and find out it has turned into an extraordinary piece of History, a Superman of a wine no one had quite seen the full potential.
The extraordinary potential is there, for everyone to witness, sooner rather than later. Once in a lifetime!
Enjoy 🙂
See Luis Cañas Hiru 3 Racimos in Video
https://www.instagram.com/p/BN-Gm53Awo5/
Please let me know your thoughts