Finca Allende is the brainchild of Miguel Ángel de Gregorio, one of Rioja`s ?modernistas`. The winery is based in Briones, on the right bank of the Ebro river, in Rioja Alta. The soils in Briones are composed of red clay and gravel and the vineyards face north. Miguel`s philosophy is that wine is made in the vineyard and he seeks to express the individual qualities of each site, rather than highlight barrel ageing. Indeed, when you visit him in Rioja, he often insists on tasting individual vineyard wines in situ, to fully understand their origin and style. The single vineyard wines Martires, Calvario and Aurus are the ultimate expressions of Miguel`s hard work. The flagship Allende Tinto is 100% Tempranillo, aged for 14 months in French oak barrels. It is a modern and fruit-forward interpretation of Rioja with a deep colour and lovely cedar and tobacco notes.