RIOJA MONTH - OCTOBER 2022
Spain’s most famous wine region is in our spotlight this month, and we couldn't be prouder to share with you our eclectic selection of red and white vinos.
Located in the north east of Spain, the region is divided into 3 parts: The Rioja Oriental, Alta, and Alavesa. Our Riojas are all sourced from the latter two where you can find fresher and more delicate wines. The Rioja Oriental generally produces wines with fuller body and higher alcohol.
The Rioja Alta is higher in altitude than the lower-lying Rioja Oriental, with soils high in clay. This leads to richer styles of wine, and is where you can find the more traditional wines – well-suited to cellaring and beautiful when mature. Bodegas Ruconia of this style – all of the richness and depth of flavour, but still with a fine line of freshness. A modern style has been emerging in the region too - with less wood ageing and gentler fruit extraction, highlighting the terroir here. These wines (although will have no problem ageing) are easy to enjoy when young. To try the modern winemaking approach of The Rioja Alta, look no further than Bodegas y Viñedos Artuke.
The Rioja Alavesa is the most mountainous part of Rioja, with soils rich in limestone. The wines here are the finest and most elegant you can find. Our Rioja Alavesa producers are blessed with exceptional vineyards in some of the highest parts of the entire Rioja region – up to 650m in some cases. Try the lively and vivacious wines from Tentenublo or the gentle and refined wines from Sierra de Toloño – winemaker Sandra Bravo was awarded "Young Winemaker of the year 2019" by Rioja expert Tim Atkin. Both of these producers make modern styled Riojas, using very little oak to gently support the delicate and pure fruit character.
- Free delivery for all orders over £150. Case price* discount on any 12 (mixed) bottles or more. -
2018 XÉRICO Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14% Red
Viura, Tempranillo.
Roberto Oliván's 'very own house wine', the Xerico is co-fermented Tempranillo and Viura, resulting in a spicy, slightly 'sauvage' wine, with an incredible freshness and energy from whole bunch fermentation. Sligh...(read more)
L&S2018 LOS CORRILLOS Blanco Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 13% White
Viura, Jaén Blanca, Malvasía Riojana (Alarije).
This is the last vintage of this wine under its own label, alas, as in future it will be blended into the Tentenublo Blanco. Made from Calagraño and 5% Viura and Malvasía, it has plenty of colour, extract a...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com2019 LOS CORRILLOS VLAV Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14% Red
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano.
Three very old parcels between 70 and 80 years' old supply the grapes for this whole bunch-fermented cuvée of more or less equal parts Garnacha, Tempranillo and Monastrell. Serious, sappy and tannic, this wouldn't...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com2018 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO Las Guillermas Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Viura, Tempranillo.
Las Guillermas is a 70-year-old parcel in the lower part of Lanciego, close to the River Ebro at around 400 metres. Combining Tempranillo and 40% Viura, this is light, fresh and well-balanced, with less alcohol than some...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com2019 TERESEÑO Single Vineyard Rioja Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Garnacha.
This used to be known as La Dula - but Sandra has changed this to avoid confusion with her other pure Garnacha wine La Dula de Altura.
Tereseño is a single vineyard at 700m, planted in 1944. Farmed organic...(read more)
2017 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO El Abundillano Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 13% Red
Tempranillo, Garnacha.
This one-hectare field blend of Garnacha with 10% Tempranillo and Malvasía was planted at the turn of the last century on red clay and sand soils. The resulting wine is rich and well upholstered with plenty of alc...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.comORDER
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