Rioja
Rioja
Spain's best-known wine region, along the Ebro in the north. Tempranillo is the grape, usually with Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo in support, and oak — traditionally American oak — is part of the signature rather than an addition to it.
Reading the label
Rioja labels state ageing, and the terms are legally defined. Joven is unaged. Crianza is a minimum of two years, one of them in barrel. Reserva is three years, one in barrel. Gran Reserva is five years, two in barrel — and is only made in vintages the estate thinks will carry it. This is the useful thing about Rioja: a bottle marked Gran Reserva has already been cellared for you by the producer.
What to expect
Traditional Rioja is savoury and oak-marked, with dried fruit and vanilla rather than fresh berry — the older tiers in particular. A newer, darker, less oaked style also exists and is usually labelled by estate rather than by ageing category. Either way, Rioja is one of the few regions where an aged bottle costs little more than a young one.
Serving
16–18°C. Crianza drinks on opening; Reserva and Gran Reserva are worth a decanter, partly for sediment.
MUGA Prado Enea Gran Reserva (Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo, Graciano) 1995 (1x75cl)
BR Vega Sicilia Macan Clasico Rioja 2020 (1x75cl)
BR Vega Sicilia Macan Rioja 2019 (1x75cl)
Luis Canas, Reserva Selection de Familia 2019 (1x75cl)
Bodegas Luis Canas Vinas Viejas Blanco Fermentado en Barrica DOCa 2022 (1x75cl)
Bodegas Roda Roda I Blanco Rioja DOCa 2021 (1x75cl)
Bodegas Roda Roda I Blanco Rioja DOCa 2020 (1x75cl)
Bodegas Roda 'Roda I' Reserva 2019 (1x150cl)
Benjamin Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macan Clasico 2019 (1x150cl)
Benjamin Rothschild & Vega Sicilia Macan 2018 (1x150cl)
La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1970 (Low Level) (1x75cl)
La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1970 (1x75cl)
Torre de Ona, Finca Martelo Reserva 2019 (1x75cl)
La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reserva 2019 (1x75cl)
Hermanos Hernaiz (Finca la Emperatriz) El Jardin de la Emperatriz Crianza 2018 (1x75cl)
Hermanos Hernaiz (Finca la Emperatriz) Gran Vino Tinto 2017 (1x75cl)
Hermanos Hernaiz (Finca la Emperatriz) Las Cenizas 2020 (1x75cl)
Bodegas Roda Cirsion 2018 (1x75cl)
- Featured
- Most relevant
- Best selling
- Alphabetically, A-Z
- Alphabetically, Z-A
- Price, low to high
- Price, high to low
- Date, old to new
- Date, new to old