Spain
Of course, you can’t talk about Spanish red wine without mentioning Rioja. Sometime erroneously taken to mean all Spanish red wines, the wines of Rioja are from a specific region in northern Spain hugging the Rio Ebro. One of the Ebro’s tributaries lends the region its name – the Rio Oja. The synthesis of Garnacha and Tempranillo with American oak barrels is a style of wine much copied in Spain but rarely without. The reliance on long wood ageing has been tempered in recent years to an extent, but oak still defines the classic Rioja.
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2019 GARNACHA Bodegas y Viñedos Monfil
Cariñena Spain 13.5% Red
Syrah, Garnacha.
There is a joyous nose of dark cherry, damson and raspberry, all backed by a lively pepperiness. Smooth and supple and not in any way heavy (which is something lesser Garnachas can lean towards).
L&S
2019 CHAVAL Bobal 'Ecologica' Bodegas Nodus
Valencia Spain 13% Red
Bobal. Organic, Vegetarian, Vegan
This really is a sensational wine for the money. Dark and fleshy, with blackberry, loganberry and plum fruits. Delicious weight and intensity of fruit, with an earthy under-note, plenty of character that keeps this wine evolving through to the end of the bottle.
L&S
2018 TALENTO Monastrell Ecológico Ego Bodegas
Jumilla Spain 14% Red
Monastrell. Organic, Vegetarian, Vegan
Harvest is quite late here to allow the Monastrell (Mouvedre) to reach peak maturity - and the grapes are brought in during the first week of October. The estate works organically and the Monastrell vines are now more than 25 years old. This explains the great depth of fruit and complex ar...(read more)
L&S
2019 GARNACHA SYRAH Bodegaverde
Cariñena Spain 13.5% Red
Syrah, Garnacha. Organic
This red has such an open and inviting personality, it is hard not to fall for it from the first sniff. There is pungency of ripe red and black fruits, glossy and warming, it is filled with sunshine. But the palate plays a beautiful balancing act between rich fruitiness, blackberry, strawb...(read more)
L&S
PRESS
2018 MUNIA TORO Roble 8 Meses Bodegas Viñaguareña
Toro Spain 14.5% Red
Tinta de Toro.
Made with fruit from the estate's vineyards right above the banks of the Guareña river, (a tributary of the Douro) this pure Tinta de Toro (Tempranillo) is loaded with delicious expressive fruit notes from the very old vines. Silky, deep purple berry flesh is pepped up by fresh line...(read more)
L&S
2016 REY DON GARCIA RIOJA Crianza Bodegas Ruconia
Rioja Alta Rioja Spain 13% Red
Mazuelo, Tempranillo, Graciano.
A lovely Crianza from Bodegas Ruconia. This is a firm favourite at L&S. Lots of lively cherry fruit wrapped up in attractive vanilla oak. Medium bodied, the wine holds a good high tone throughout. Another Rioja that offers excellent value for money.
L&S
PAIRING
2019 ARTUKE Rioja
Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Viura, Tempranillo. Organic, Bio-dynamic
The sheer drink-ability of this wine marked it out from the first time we tasted it with the 2015 release. A blend of mostly Tempranillo with a splash of Viura and made using carbonic maceration to lock in the wonderful fresh primary fruitness. This is a sappy, juicy red with damson, cherr...(read more)
L&S
2016 AUTÒCTON Vinyes Velles Autòcton Celler
Catalunya Spain 12.5% Red
Sumoll. Organic, Bio-dynamic
In this vintage Albert has made this as a 100% Sumoll, with the perfect climate in 2016 he felt it this rare, ancient, local variety did not need the support of Tempranillo (Ull de Llebre). This is therefore perhaps even more authentic than ever. Either way it is a startlingly good ‘local’...(read more)
L&S
2018 TROS DE MAS VILELLA Mas Vilella
Catalunya Spain Red
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sumoll.
The latest inovation from the tireless Albert-Jané of Acustic Celler fame, is this brilliant, attractive and deeply satisfying red from his home farm - Mas Vilella. The Tros de Mas Vilella comes from the old vineyards planted around the family house by Albert's parents. The soils he...(read more)
L&S
2014 RIOJA RESERVA Bodegas Ruconia
Rioja Alta Rioja Spain 14% Red
Mazuelo, Tempranillo, Graciano.
Intense, dark, red cherry colour. Strong aromas of tobacco, toasty notes, creamy and ripe blackberry aromas. Round, velvety and full of volume, leaving toasted, spicy notes on the palate.
Winemaker's notesORDER
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