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Essential references

Rioja

Tondonia, a vineyard in a river bend: Rafael López de Heredia planted Viña Tondonia in 1913–1914 in a bend of the Ebro near Haro. This vineyard gives its name to some of the wines; ‘Viña Bosconia’ and ‘Viña Cubillo’ retain their own identities.
The house ages before it sells: Time in cask is part of the signature: six years for ‘Viña Tondonia Reserva Tinto’, five for ‘Viña Bosconia Reserva Tinto’ and three for ‘Viña Cubillo Crianza Tinto’. Maturation is patient work that precedes the wines’ arrival at the table.
Reds with already developed flavours: ‘Viña Tondonia Reserva Tinto’ is described as very dry, round and developed, with toasted and vanilla nuances. ‘Viña Bosconia Reserva Tinto’ is round and firmly built, while ‘Viña Cubillo Crianza Tinto’ favours freshness and persistence; these profiles are not tied here to the same vintage.

Historic Haro bodega with named estate vineyards and a long-maturation tradition.

Essential references

Rioja

904 tells of a union: ‘Gran Reserva 904’ recalls 1904, when Alfredo Ardanza proposed bringing his bodega and La Rioja Alta together. A reserva celebrated that union; the number preserves its memory on the bottle.
Garnacha gives Ardanza its place: ‘Viña Ardanza Reserva’ 2020 combines 80% Tempranillo from La Cuesta and Montecillo with 20% Garnacha from La Pedriza. This latter plot in Tudelilla distinguishes its blend from that of ‘904’.
904, silky and spicy: ‘Gran Reserva 904’ 2016 combines 90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano, with four years in American oak. Black fruit, spice, silky tannins and freshness compose this long-aged Rioja.

Historic Haro wine house; its documented Viña Ardanza blend illustrates the combination of different vineyard origins.

Essential references

Rioja DOCa

The ambition to send Rioja abroad: In 1852, Luciano Murrieta applied techniques learned in Bordeaux to make a Rioja capable of ageing and being exported. The long maturation of ‘Castillo Ygay’ continues this historic ambition.
Castillo Ygay comes from one precise place: The cuvée originates at La Plana, in the upper part of Finca Ygay, planted in 1950, and appears only in harvests selected by the estate. For the 2012, Tempranillo and Mazuelo spend thirty-four months separately in American and French oak, then twenty months together in concrete.
Depth without hardness: ‘Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Tinto’ 2012: ripe cherry and plum, tea, cedar and dried flowers; a deep palate with polished tannins.

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Rioja DOCa

An English pint becomes a great wine: The name ‘Imperial’ comes from the Imperial Pint, an old bottle format intended for the British market. The wine is made in a small autonomous bodega within CVNE’s historic facilities in Haro.
Three villages before the blend: ‘Imperial Reserva’ brings together vineyards in Villalba, Briones and Torremontalvo. Their lots age separately before the final blend: the cuvée is built from these differences.
A supple, spicy Rioja: ‘Imperial Reserva’ 2020: woodland berries and spice; a supple, elegant, fresh palate after twenty-four months in American and French oak.

Essential references

Rioja · Haro

The family also makes its barrels: In Haro, Muga has its own cooperage to make vats and barrels. Working with wood is therefore part of the house’s craft, right down to choosing the barrels for each wine.
Reserva takes its time: ‘Muga Reserva’ 2022 spends twenty-four months in barrels, then at least a year in bottle. This rest supports the integration of oak and the softening of texture.
Fruit and silky tannins: ‘Muga Reserva’ 2022: expressive fruit, woodland touches and well-integrated maturation; the palate remains fresh and structured, with silky tannins and a long finish.

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Rioja

From Mugaritz to Rioja’s vines: After several years in the kitchens of Mugaritz, Jade Gross turned to wine, encouraged by Abel Mendoza and Maite Fernández. In 2019, she launched her own project, devoted both to blended whites and single-plot reds.
Chiguita, her nickname in a bottle: ‘Chiguita’ adopts an affectionate nickname for Jade. For the blended white 2024, the varieties are vinified separately in French barrels and then aged for six months on fine lees.
A floral, lively white: ‘Chiguita’ Blanco 2024 offers white fruit and floral nuances, with a dry, lively finish. This bottle is distinct from the single-variety cuvées also called ‘Chiguita’.

Essential references

Rioja DOCa

The wire net guarded against counterfeits: Riscal’s golden mesh was intended to prevent an empty bottle being refilled with another wine: it was a guarantee of authenticity. ‘Reserva’ 2020 introduced the presentation without this net, abandoned to reduce packaging materials.
Tempranillo from Rioja Alavesa: The ‘Reserva’ is based on old Tempranillo vines, complemented by Graciano. The 2020 spends twenty-two months in American oak, continuing the house style.
A Rioja with sweet spices: ‘Marqués de Riscal Reserva’ 2020: liquorice, cinnamon and black pepper over ripe fruit; a fresh, structured palate with polished tannins.

Essential references

Rioja DOCa

Garnacha from Monte Yerga: On the slopes of Monte Yerga around Alfaro, the Palacios family puts Garnacha at the centre of La Montesa. This Rioja Oriental wine gives the grape the leading role in a region often introduced through Tempranillo.
La Montesa 2020: Red fruit and spice accompany ripe tannins in the 2020. Freshness balances the luscious fruit; Garnacha leads the blend.

New generation and emerging producers

Rioja DOCa

A rented vineyard to begin with: Sandra Bravo returned to Rioja in 2012 after working in Priorat among other places. She began with a rented vineyard, then built Sierra de Toloño around small old plots.
Tempranillo gains altitude: ‘Sierra de Toloño Tinto’ comes from bush-trained Tempranillo vines in Rivas de Tereso, at around 650 metres. Eight months in unobtrusive wood support the wine while leaving its freshness and fruit to the fore.
Violet and Mediterranean herbs: ‘Sierra de Toloño Tinto’: violet, Mediterranean herbs and light toasted touches; a fresh palate, round tannins and balanced acidity.