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.
[Read more...]2022 ARTUKE Rioja
Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo, Viura.
It's Rioja Jim, but not as we know it! Partial carbonic maceration to promote the bright primary fruitiness of the Tempranillo, raspberry and juicy cherry, sappy and bright, with a thirst quenching tang. There's some lov...(read more)
L&S2020 REY DON GARCIA RIOJA Crianza Bodegas Ruconia
Rioja Alta Rioja Spain 13% Red
Tempranillo, Mazuelo, 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...(read more)
L&S2014 RIOJA RESERVA Bodegas Ruconia
Rioja Alta Rioja Spain 14% Red
Tempranillo, Mazuelo, 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 delivers everything in su...(read more)
L&S2020 TENTENUBLO RIOJA TINTO
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura.
The 2020 Tentenublo is a blend of 60% Tempranillo, 30% Garnacha and 10% Viura, sourced from Viñaspre, Rioja Alavesa and aged for 10 months in both foudres and French oak barrels. Characterized by reductive black f...(read more)
Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous.com2021 RIOJA ALAVESA Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo. Practising Organic
Pure, supple blackberry and myrtle fruit, floral and with some delicate herbal touches. In the mouth there is a juicy, crunchiness, dark fruit, bilberries, herbs once more, so fresh and pure.
L&S2021 RIOJA Pies Negros Crianza Artuke
Rioja Spain 14% Red
Tempranillo, Graciano. Certified Organic
Finer and more fragrant than the 2020 release, Pies Negros is a cuvée of Tempranillo and 15% Graciano from vineyards between 600 and 650 metres in Ábalos. Matured in older oak, it has subtle, stony reductio...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com2018 XÉRICO Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14% Red
Tempranillo, Viura.
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&S2022 LA DULA Garnachas de Altura Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 14% Red
Garnacha.
This is only the fifth vintage of La Dula, but it has already established itself among the best Garnachas in Rioja. Featuring what Sandra Bravo calls "white wine acidity", this hails from vineyards over 600 met...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com2021 FINCA DE LOS LOCOS RIOJA Artuke
Rioja Spain 14% Red
Tempranillo, Graciano. Certified Organic
Finca de Los Locos is a single, 2.8 hectare parcel in Baños Ebro, planted in 1981 with bush vines of Tempranillo, 20% Graciano and 2% Viura. There is lots of limestone in this sandy vineyard which leaves the wine...(read more)
L&S2020 RIOJA Paso Las Mañas Crianza Artuke
Rioja Spain 14% Red
Tempranillo, Graciano. Certified Organic
Anyone who argues that you need old vines to make a great wine in Rioja, or elsewhere, needs to visit Paso Las Mañas, which was planted in 2013 at an extreme 720 metres in Samaniego. Mountain herb aromas are a pre...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com2017 LA RIOJA ALTA Reserva Viña Ardanza
Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Tempranillo, Mazuelo, Graciano.
2017 was not an easy harvest, but it produced some beautiful and classical wines, like the 2017 Viña Ardanza Reserva […] It's ripe and aromatic, tertiary, with 14.5% alcohol and mellow acidity, a medium-bodied pal...(read more)
Luis Gutierrez, www.robertparker.com2019 LOS CORRILLOS VLAV Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14% Red
Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano. Bio-dynamic, Vegan, Vegetarian, Practising Organic
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.comORDER
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