What makes a wine special? Probably, a set of characteristics which endow such wine with own character.
However... Are these characteristics objective or subjective? As is often the case in the mixture of objectivity and subjectivity, of reason and emotion, it is often the case in the mixture of objectivity and subjectivity, of reason and emotion, where sublime results.
To create this list with 5 special Rioja wines we asked the winemakers themselves which of their wines they consider to be the most special. A decision that has certainly not been easy, nor comfortable.
1. Grain by Grain, Bodegas Fernández Eguíluz
From Ábalos the family Fernández Eguíluz is clear about what is its most special wine. And although data often fall short in describing a wine, in this case 2 of them are particularly significant: the 550 kilos of grapes used in its production and the 166 hours of hand-picking.
A treat for to give visibility to the potential and character of the old vineyard. Centenary goblet-grown Tempranillos from the middle and upper areas of Ábalos, San Prudencio, El Parrujal and El Herrón.
With a ageing in new French oak barrels 14 months, the first vintage to be produced was 2016 with 526 bottles available for tasting.
The label is a watercolour by José Uriszar riojalteño artist which is placed on the bottlenot glued, so you can keep it as a souvenir if you wish.
2. Valenciso Blanco 2022
From Valenciso in Ollauri choose as their most special wine VALENCISO White 2022 for being a wine that surprises. "It is difficult to find wines that surprise and our white VALENCISO does". Carmen assures us.
From old payments of Ollauri, Haro, and Villalba grown at ecological, in the north of the Rioja Alta and soils between 507 and 610 metres.
Mixture of viura and garnacha blanca Aged for 8 months in oak barrels.
This wine stands out in the mouth for its texture, very elegant and round. A subtle and diverse nose. With great balance between fruit and oakThis is a very fine wine, which allows an evolution towards creaminess and richness of nuances.
Recently chosen as one of the best Rioja wines to accompany the dinner that the Michelin star chefs from La Rioja The UNWTO was held in Logroño last November. Also chosen in El País as one of the 8 most promising whites from La Rioja.
3. Resaco de Bodegas Betolaza
From Briones the brothers Betolaza are clear that Resaco, his "garnachero grandfather".is the most special wine they make.
The family does not know the exact date of the planting of this unique plot of land located on the banks of the Ebro river between the towns of Briones and San Vicente de la Sonsierra. However, it is believed to have been before the spring of 1920.
This terroir occupies a plot of 0.26 hectaresIt is divided in two by a bank, with a flat terrain, without boulders, with sandy soil in the northern part thanks to the sand that has been deposited after the floods of the Ebro and with spontaneous vegetation since do not use herbicides.
A century and 5 generations then resaco is born a 1920's homeland with night-time harvesting and hand-harvesting, which has become the most special wine of this family winery.
4. Rulei Viña Barracallo Renques de Chenin
From Badaran Adrian does not hesitate to choose which is his most special wine, and that is that his white wine Renques de Chenin is unique and exclusive in the DOC Rioja.
It comes from a Chenin Blanc vineyard called Viña Barracallo, the French white variety of the Loire Valley, planted with experimental permission. in 1985.
This very special white passes 6 months in new French oak barrels 225l. Subsequently it rests 10 months in concrete before bottling.
The result, 651 unique bottles.
5. Ama y Ensancha el Alma Tinto de La Bodeguita Escondida
The project of La Bodeguita Escondida was born when we tasted aged wines that respected all of the aromas and flavours that a good grape could give. Over the years we managed to find the grapes that would give us the possibility of making the wine we were looking for.
Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano from OllauriRioja Alta, from clay-limestone soils and a low production vineyard. Harvested by hand in crates and fermented in 500-litre tanks before ageing during 22 months in used barrels French and American oak. To be released for sale after at least 24 months of bottle ageing in our cellar. draft.
On the palate, it stands out for its intensity in black fruits It is assembled in perfect balance with the spicy notes from its time in oak and the silkiness and finesse provided by the Tempranillo of this magnificent Terroir.
With our range of "Ama y ensancha el Alma" we also achieved another objective that we set ourselves when we created La Bodeguita Escondida, which was to be also La Bodeguita Solidaria.
6. Sayón un vino de autor de Bodegas J.F. Iradier en Rioja Alavesa
From Samaniego, en el corazón de Rioja Alavesa, nace Sayón, el vino más especial de Bodegas J.F. Iradier, una pequeña bodega familiar donde la tradición y el cuidado son la esencia de cada botella.
Elaborado por Juan Francisco Iradier, que lleva toda una vida dedicada a la viña, Sayón representa el sueño de dar nombre propio a un vino nacido de pequeñas parcelas familiares, trabajadas sin prisa y con el respeto a la tierra como guía.
Con una producción muy limitada, este vino refleja la identidad de nuestros suelos calizos y arcillosos, la altitud de Samaniego y la influencia de la Sierra de Cantabria, que protege nuestros viñedos y les aporta frescura y carácter.
From color intenso, con aromas a fruta madura y sutiles notas de crianza, Sayón es un vino redondo y honesto, que busca emocionar a quien lo prueba. Una expresión sincera de nuestra tierra y de nuestra familia.
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