Rioja - Red Wines
Such is/was the pre-eminence of Rioja in the Spanish wine market that the name is often used as a catch-all for all Spanish red wine. It is, however, a specific region, hugging the Rio Ebro (but taking its name from a tributary - the Rio Oja) in northern Spain. Much influenced by 19th Century Bordelais wine makers fleeing south from their phylloxera-infested vineyards, Rioja enthusiastically adopted the barrique (a small 225ltr barrel, in Spain made from American rather than French oak) and, thus, Rioja was for many decades intrinsically linked with oak and oaky flavours.
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2015 REY DON GARCIA RIOJA Crianza Bodegas Ruconia
Rioja Alta Rioja Spain 13% Red
Mazuelo, Graciano, Tempranillo
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...(read more)
L&S
2010 RIOJA RESERVA Bodegas Ruconia
Rioja Alta Rioja Spain 14% Red
Mazuelo, Tempranillo, Graciano
This really is a superb vintage of this wine, so much to love in the more traditional Rioja style here, liquorice, coffee, meat juices, leather, redcurrants, herbs and cedar. But the palate then...(read more)
L&S
2016 RIOJA ALAVESA Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo
Sandra's wines seem to improve with every release. 2016 is a fabulous vintage for her here in the high hills of Alavesa on the north side of Rioja. The lovely long summer season has added a shade...(read more)
L&S
L&S
2017 XÉRICO Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14% Red
Viura, Tempranillo
Deeper colour than the 'Tinto', a raw freshness, a hint of reduction, super-taut black fruit and sappy energy from whole bunch fermentation. It's 'sauvage' energy is captivating from now and beco...(read more)
L&S
L&S
2016 TENTENUBLO Rioja Tinto
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14% Red
Garnacha, Viura, Tempranillo
Striking fresh nose of sun-warmed ripe dark hedgerow fruit leads one to expect a softer palate, but the entry is tart, bright and appetising with firm and even mildly bitter tannins which give an...(read more)
L&S
L&S
2016 RAPOSO Rioja Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 13% Red
Tempranillo
Sandra has been busy this year and we are delighted she has brought out this new wine from a fantastic new (to her) vineyard of old vine Tempranilllo. Sandra tells us that in Raposo she is able to bottle e...(read more)
L&S
PRESS
2016 RIOJA Camino de Santa Cruz Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 13% Red
Tempranillo
This wine used to be known as Rivas de Tereso and is one of Sandra's very special, small production releases from a specific old vineyard of pure Tempranillo. As before this is fermented in amphoras and...(read more)
L&S
L&S
2016 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO Veriquete Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Garnacha, Malvasia, Viura, Tempranillo
Richly deep and firmly tannic, but with the most wonderful aromatics which include fruit and fine grained wood but also some notes of spice and dried herbs which suggest a greater maturity than t...(read more)
L&S
L&S
2016 LA DULA Garnacha Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Garnacha
This is a new arrival for Sandra, the results of her work in a 'new' garnacha vineyard, high up on the Alavesa hills at 650m. The vines date from 1944 and it’s the 'real' garnacha from this area...(read more)
L&S
L&S
2017 LOS CORRILLOS Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Garnacha, Tempranillo, Graciano
Bold and primary on the nose with myrtle, black cherry and blackberry fruits, overlaid with a delicate spice. Grip and juice in the mouth with almost sticky rich tannins, blackberry, herbs, spice...(read more)
L&S
L&S
2017 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO El Abundillano Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 15.5% Red
Garnacha, Tempranillo
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...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com
2017 LOS CORRILLOS Rock Abo Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Garnacha, Graciano, Tempranillo
Whereas the 'Los Corrillos' label is for a blend of plots around Vinaspre, this one is a single vineyard with a rather rock'n'roll name - it's geographical co-ordinates feature on a label that is...(read more)
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