Rioja Lineup
- Mixed
- Rioja
Rioja is a region that needs no introduction. Universally adored worldwide for making powerfully focussed, incredibly age-worthy and unbelievably enjoyable wines, Rioja rarely disappoints. These six represent a wide variety of styles, from the ever-famous tempranillo to the always-delicious grenache. They’re aged and ready to go, but there’s aeons of life in them yet, so no rush.
Every case contains ONE of each of the following:
Red
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- Grenache Blend
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- Rioja
- Grenache Blend
- Rioja
Finca de la Rica , who make this wonderful wine, are one of our all time favourite Rioja producers. They work with around forty small plots of old vines across Rioja Alavesa and make small volumes of top-quality wine. El Rincón de Los Enebros is their take on a grenache-dominant blend, with tempranillo playing a supporting role. Anyone familiar with the region knows that old vine garnacha from Rioja can reach lofty heights of excellence and this wine certainly has some of that magic. Part of the magic is the twelve months that it spends in new American oak, that is wrapped into the generous fruit, and balanced by the fresh notes (likely from the temp). It’s rich and powerful, and very silky - the fruit spectrum is blue and red (in abundance) and there are layers of toasty vanillin notes along with baking spice.
Red
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- Tempranillo
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- Rioja
- Tempranillo
- Rioja
Here's what Tim Atkin had to day about this wine in his 93 point review: "This is still a young Reserva, especially from a bodega that specialises in wines that age gloriously in bottle. Marrying Tempranillo with 10% Graciano, it's compact, focused and well-balanced, with crunchy black cherry and blackberry fruit framed by spicy, aromatic oak."
Red
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- Tempranillo
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- Rioja
- Tempranillo
- Rioja
Laser-cut cleanliness, blood orange, ultra-fine tannin... that doesn’t sound like old school Rioja?! No, it’s not - this wine by Alegre Valgañón has both feet firmly planted in the new school, with pristine fruit, elegant freshness and well managed oak. They are a husband and wife duo (Oscar Alegre and Eva Valgañón) who work with small parcels to make truely excellent wines. If you like the vibrant cherries, high altitude coolness and a touch of cola, famous to tempranillo - you’ll love this. The tiny tannins compliment the driving acid and subtle earthiness to make a remarkable drop.
Red
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- Tempranillo
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- Rioja
- Tempranillo
- Rioja
This is top-notch Rioja, but approachable Rioja. You can tell just by looking at it. It looks somehow livelier in the glass, more vital and intense. Tempranillo and garnacha make up the mix here (90/10%), singing of juicy cherries and plums. Oak treatment comprises a 70-30 French-American split, giving darker toasty notes and a background coconut hint. The wine is deep and complex, but also fun and never too imposing.
Red
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- Tempranillo
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- Rioja
- Tempranillo
- Rioja
The wines of Alegre Valgañón have their feet firmly planted in the new school, with pristine fruit, elegant freshness and well managed oak. They are a husband and wife duo (Oscar Alegre and Eva Valgañón) who work with small parcels to make truely excellent wines. This wine is blend of a couple of villages, choosing the best tempranillo and grenache from sites that suit the grapes. Tempranillo’s sour cherry and bright acid compliment grenache’s fleshy red fruit and heady aromatics. If it’s oak-aged Rioja you are after - this is not your wine, but if it’s a vibrant, nervy mid-weight red - get on board!
Red
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- Tempranillo
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- Rioja
- Tempranillo
- Rioja
The International Wine Challenge called this wine “stylish and effortlessly balanced”, which it certainly is. It’s that style of classic Reserva Rioja, which indicates at least three years ageing and a minimum one year in oak barrel, in this case a combination of 65% American oak and 35% new French Allier barriques. This wine was picked on the riper side, so there is an abundance of juicy fruit character balancing the sweet and spicy oak. At four years old, all elements are starting to harmonise and the oak tannin is slightly softening. The colour is vibrant ruby and the fruit is on the plush side, balanced by that tannin.