Tempranillo/Tinto Fino

Bodegas Amézola de la Mora was established in the mid-19th century. Restored in the early 1980s by the flamboyant Iñigo Amézola de la Mora, this estate is extremely unusual (for Rioja) in that it owns all of its vines.  The 65 hectares of vineyards, planted with Tempranillo, Mazuelo and Graciano, benefit from a high altitude and cooler climate, and yield elegant, classic wines packed full of harmonious red berry and vanilla flavours.

We have enhanced our much-loved Rioja Crianza in 2014 with a dash of rich Reserva wine for added structure and depth. The nose is full of comfortingly familiar notes of sweet vanilla, while the palate brims with dark berry fruits and hints of peppery spice.

Our 2015 vintage Rioja continues the excellent work done by sisters Maria and Cristina Amezola de la Mora. More structured than previous vintages, the wine oozes dark blackberry fruit, lifted by red fruit freshness. However, this is no simple Crianza: a dollop of Reserva wine adds a serious touch. It is long, delicious and extremely moreish.
Catriona Felstead MW, Wine Buyer 

The influence of oak looms large over Ribera del Duero - Tempranillo often responds brilliantly to it, so why not? But Jovén de Silos demonstrates that the varietal has ample quality and character to stand on its own two feet. This wine wants for nothing, despite the complete absence of oak during its production.

Pretty, violet-scented, with lively acidity, soft tannins and a long finish which leaves no doubt about its pedigree, and leaves the drinker wanting more. An obvious pick for summer, but I suspect it would also work well with roast turkey.
Will Heslop, Wine Buying

This delicious red Vermouth is made from 100 percent Tempranillo by the energetic Oscar Aragón of Cillar de Silos. It is one of the most unusual Vermouths we have come across, with an absolutely glorious note of lavender that transcends the more classic bitter herbs. This would be an excellent base for a mouth-watering Negroni or would add an unusual twist to a classic Martini- but it is also superb on its own over ice- summer in a glass. 

2014 is a fantastic vintage in Ribera, Hacienda Monasterio believe this could be one of their best ever Cosecha wines.
 
“Attractive ruby in colour, the nose really opens up with a gentle swirl of the glass bringing decadent forest fruit, redcurrants, blueberries and complemented by hints of allspice. Impressive concentration across the palate, there’s serious substance to this yet kept in check an ever balancing acidity and almost unnoticeable such is the silky texture and glossy mouthfeel. Dominated by Tempranillo, the additional 10% of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in the blend bring a different dimension to this with greater depth and richness of flavour; toasted plum, mulberry and hints of milk chocolate. Simply gorgeous, very hard not to spit it out! Detailled through to the finish with a rolling freshness, you can look forward to enjoying this from 2018 – 2025.”

Chris Lamb, Private Account Manager

A resounding success, flourishing from a late, cool vintage. Beautifully perfumed, boasting precision and definition.

“2013 by the Bodegas’ own admittance was, to use that great wine-trade euphuism, ‘difficult’ in Ribera del Duero. The mark of a great estate however, is what they can achieve when the elements don’t play ball; that this Reserva was produced from the latest harvest in history, is testament to Peter Sisseck’s stellar site, fruit and barrel selection. Cool, pure and precise throughout this is refinement to the last. Fruit-forward yes, but it isn’t necessarily the fruit that keeps your nose so absorbed, granite, cool stone and a touch of blackcurrant leaf add layers of complexity to the 80% Tempranillo 20% Cabernet blend. Concentrated and silky, the tannins have been honed by 20 months in French oak and the finish is so harmonious and complete that you wish to repeat the entire experience instantly.”

Jared Ehret, Private Account Manager

La Poza de Ballesteros, the second of the three single vineyard sites faces Valdeginés in the San Ginés Valley, its west exposition engendering a wine with a different character, firmer, denser and with more stentorian tannins.

Biurco is a vineyard that we have enjoyed visiting over the years; it has a tranquillity and beauty and, predominately west-facing, is particularly attractive in the evening. The soil is homogenised clay and limestone, and the wine is marked by the charm of its aromas; violets, truffles and dark chocolate to name but three. If its stablemate Valdeparasio is linear, this wine is more fleshy and noted for both the sweetness of fruit on the palate and the power on the finish with layers of sumptuous ripe red cherry, fresh strawberry and vanilla new oak. Drink 2018-2029

Visiting la Poza and Valdegines, each on the gentle slopes of a valley, with differing aspects and orientations, one can clearly see how Artadi are in the vanguard of the Parcellaire movement in Spain, that is to say the identification of specific plots to give specific character to the wines. La Poza gets afternoon sun and is harvested a week earlier than Valdegines. Its pure clay/limestone soils give wines of power and structure; the 2011 has a nose of eucalypt, soy and black tea, and a ripe fruit character on the palate, nicely supported by the finely-chiselled tannins.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

There are some who claim that Gran Reserva Rioja provides almost too much of a good thing; why leave the wine for quite so long in wood, when, with a shorter maturation, one would have a more expressive and robust Reserva wine. These people are entitled to this opinion; indeed, in the vast majority of cases, they are probably right, as there are many rather fragile, lack-lustre Gran Reservas on the market. Not so with La Rioja Alta.

Made up of 90% Tempranillo, with 10% of Graciano, the 1998 was aged for four years in American oak, racked every six months and then bottled with minimal filtration. The colour is typically mature with crepuscular hints of amber at the rim; the nose is, as always, charming, gently lifted with hints of leather, wild strawberry and scorched earth. The acidity on the palate is lifted, but not to excess and it provides an attractive back-drop to the beautifully mature fruit. A very fine wine , wonderfully food friendly; wonderful full stop.
Simon Field MW, Fine Wine Buyer

The west-facing vines relished the afternoon sun in this temperamental vintage and the wine is suitably lifted and fragrant. Notes of balsam, black tea and cassis are all entwined and a cool, sophisticated mid-palate promises great things. 
Simon Field - Wine Buyer

El Carretil is a richer wine, more densely textured, with notes of mocha and blueberry evidenced on the nose. The fruit character is etched with lapidary care and the finish has poise, freshness and length. 
Simon Field -Wine Buyer

Bin end – limited quantities at a discounted price.

If Calvario is Miguel Ángel’s Burgundy then his Bordeaux is this polymesmeric effort, Aurus. Made from 85% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo, this has been aged in new oak for 24 months. Already it is harmonious on the palate, with dark commanding fruits, hints of raisin and liquorice, and very firmly managed tannins. It is persistent and bristling with potential.
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer

Finca Allende, the estate created by brother and sister team Mercedes and Miguel Ángel de Gregorio, is located in the hill town of Briones in the Rioja Alta. ‘Allende’ can be roughly translated as ‘further’; its philosophy being to go further and further towards creating the perfect Rioja. This has been done by marrying the old and the new, by embracing the traditional grape varieties but then treating them to new French oak.

Valbuena 2010 has been aged for 31 months in a combination of cask and barrel, the latter of which are both French and American in provenance. Further bottle age before release has ensured that a latent harmony has been amplified, nurtured by Javier Ausás, whose winemaking is deferential above all to the what goes on in the vineyards,  now minutely divided into parcels, all of which are vinified separately. Nuance is all and power defers to elegance. 
The near opaque core cedes to a lively iridescent rim and a generous open nose which marries Asian spice and dark dark fruit….the palate is  more reserved than one would have thought, with dignified floral notes and very finely poised tannins underlining a near-Burgundian purity that is born of day-night temperature variations during the growing season and a clearly  Burgundian sensibility in the winery.
Simon Field MW - Spain Buyer

2012 is an excellent vintage in Ribera del Duero, shown to great effect here. Dark and robust, there’s an attractive bloody character to the fruit. Supple and gentle throughout with a lovely creaminess to the fruit. Lots of violets on the finish, with herbs and spicy richness. Drink 2016 - 2021

The 2011 Reserva continues the fine run of form at Hacienda Monasterio, the wines are now consistently amongst the finest of Ribera del Duero. Whilst the core is dark and concentrated, this is a wine full of aromatic expression with a nose featuring floral and violet notes alongside meaty, savoury characters. The palate continues in the same vein, dark and rich but with no lack of finesse; fine acidity and fine, velvety tannins create a juiciness and linear flow. Very complete and beautifully harmonious. Drink 2016 - 2026

A wine carrying the Palacios name is always worthy of consideration and this is no exception. The blend is predominantly Tempranillo and Garnatxa, however a small percentage of both Graciano and Mazuelo are added for additional depth and character. The nose displays notes of cassis, toasty oak and cigar box whilst the palate is weighty and concentrated yet remains elegant. Serve with steak or charcuterie. 
Nick Stewart, Wine Buying

One of Rioja’s signature wines and certainly the most distinctive label from Muga, Prado Enea is aged for seven years in a combination of vat, cask and bottle, its 2006 manifestation cleaving the traditional to the modern with powerful French oak tannins framing a magnificent savoury personality. An almost meaty vitality and more than a whiff of wood-smoke underlines the individuality of this truly great wine, its dark fruit core enhanced by notes of tobacco box and the kitchen garden.
Simon Field MW – Wine Buyer