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
Viura, Tempranillo.
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
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...(read more)
L&S2020 RIOJA ALAVESA Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo. Practising Organic
Ten years ago Sandra Bravo brought us the 2012 vintage of this, her first wine made back 'at home' after honing her winemaking skills around the world, and it transformed our way of thinking about Rioja. At 400 metres up...(read more)
L&S2014 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 delivers everything in su...(read more)
L&S2020 TENTENUBLO RIOJA TINTO
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Viura, Tempranillo, Garnacha.
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.com2018 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&S2021 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
Mazuelo, Tempranillo, 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, Vegetarian, Practising Organic, Vegan
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.com2017 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO Veriquete Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Malvasia, Viura, Tempranillo, Garnacha.
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&S2018 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO Las Guillermas Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Viura, Tempranillo. Practising Organic
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.comORDER
COLLECT
ORDER ONLINE AND COLLECT FROM ONE OF OUR SHOPS