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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2023 ARTUKE Rioja
Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo, Viura. Certified Organic
Back in the early 1990s, this carbonic maceration blend of Tempranillo and 5% Viura was the only wine that the De Miguel family made. Foot-trodden and fermented in concrete, it's just a wonderful drink, busting with arom...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com
2020 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&S
2022 RIOJA ALAVESA Sierra de Toloño
Rioja Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo. Practising Organic
We really love Sandra's high elevation Rioja and this is another cracker. At 400 Metres up you start to get wines with greater freshness and precision, fragrant and detailed, this has damson, blueberry and dark cherry fr...(read more)
L&S
2014 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&S
2021 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.com
2021 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&S
2018 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO Veriquete Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 15% Red
Malvasia, Tempranillo, Garnacha, Viura. Bio-dynamic, Vegetarian, Vegan, Practising Organic
A single parcel at 620 metres supplies the grapes for Roberto Oliván's slightly funky, left-field blend of Tempranillo with 20% Garnacha, Viura and Malvasía. Firm, sappy and spicy, this was entirely ferment...(read more)
L&S
2020 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.com
2019 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO El Abundillano Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 15.5% Red
Tempranillo, Garnacha.
El Abundillano - a water fountain - is the name of the parcel as well as the wine here, located at 620 metres. Picked late, this old-vine blend of Garnacha with 10% Tempranillo and Malvasía is high in alcohol yet...(read more)
Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com
2019 LOS CORRILLOS VLAV Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14% Red
Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha. Bio-dynamic, Vegetarian, Vegan, 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.com
2017 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO Veriquete Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 14.5% Red
Malvasia, Tempranillo, Garnacha, 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
2018 ESCONDITE DEL ARDACHO Las Guillermas Tentenublo
Alavesa Rioja Spain 13.5% Red
Tempranillo, Viura. 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
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