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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2020 ARTUKE Rioja
Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo, Viura. Practising Organic
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&S
2018 REY DON GARCIA RIOJA Crianza Bodegas Ruconia
Rioja Alta Rioja Spain Red
Mazuelo, Tempranillo, Graciano.
2019 RIOJA ALAVESA Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo.
This is another brand-new find and it goes straight onto my ‘wine list’ this month because it is so modern and generous. Grown with some of the highest altitude vineyards in Rioja in the foothills of the Sierra de Tolo&n...(read more)
Matthew Jukes, Moneyweek
2019 RIOJA Pies Negros Crianza Artuke
Rioja Spain Red
Tempranillo, Graciano.
Such a beautiful stylish modern Rioja, deeply fruited with black cherry, plum and dark chocolate. Sleek, ripe and deliciously polished with such amazing depth of flavour. Tannins are ripe and give structure, overlaid wit...(read more)
L&S
2018 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&S
2019 TENTENUBLO RIOJA TINTO
Alavesa Rioja Spain Red
Garnacha, Tempranillo, Viura.
As ever this is a brilliant blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Roberto's various co-planted white grapes - mostly Viura.
L&S
2017 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO Veriquete Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Garnacha, Tempranillo, Malvasia, Viura.
Roberto Oliván continues to produce exquisite wines with deep saturated colour and explosive aromatics like this. Veriquete is a plot that is just under half a hectare at nearly 600 Mtrs up in the Sierra Cantabria...(read more)
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 with plenty of alc...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.comORDER
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