Friday Sips
FRIDAY SIPS - Rioja Friday
Today October 27 from 1:30 - 6:30
Today October 27 from 1:30 - 6:30
Rioja lives in interesting times these days. Old school traditionalists co-exist alongside modernista producers to put forth a variance of styles that highlight Spain’s most venerable region. Drop by today to taste the four expressive and very individual wines listed below.
2012 MARQUES DE MURIETTA
RIOJA RESERVA
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE
RIOJA RESERVA
$21.99 BTL./$263.88 CASE
The Rioja Revolution is not being televised, it is live and direct today at The Cellar Door. With regards to systems and strategies, a wonderful modernista can now focus on terroir while a staunch traditionalist like Murietta can still make a Rioja without losing its old language accent.
This Rioja is so old school that it'll make you want to grow an afro! Mocha-spiked dried strawberries teem from the glass with Moroccan spices; leather and roasted earth are along for the ride. Captivating, majestic, mouth-filling, very smooth and gaining complexity as it unfolds in the glass. Lots of movement throughout as well as a drawn-out, silky finish with slight peppery tones make this a compelling wine for 20 bucks. Drink it over the next decade with roasted pork or lamb.
This Rioja is so old school that it'll make you want to grow an afro! Mocha-spiked dried strawberries teem from the glass with Moroccan spices; leather and roasted earth are along for the ride. Captivating, majestic, mouth-filling, very smooth and gaining complexity as it unfolds in the glass. Lots of movement throughout as well as a drawn-out, silky finish with slight peppery tones make this a compelling wine for 20 bucks. Drink it over the next decade with roasted pork or lamb.
2015 ALEGRE VALGANON RIOJA
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
“We are not trying to make the greatest wine in Rioja. We only want to make a true wine—a wine that shows off our land, and all the knowledge that we’ve inherited from earlier generations.” – co-owner/winemaker Oscar Alegre.
What was once old is now new again. Upon tasting these wines, one can feel the ghosts of the founding fathers of Rioja yet they are done utilizing French oak and have a poised, terroir driven style to them. This young Bodega is one of La Rioja’s real rising stars. After tasting last week, I thought the wines to be quite neo-classical and extremely fine.
75% Tempranillo and 25% Garnacha, this wine maintains all of the elegance and class that one finds in top wines of the area. Don't be misled that this is just elegance alone, being 2015, it possesses plenty of punch and glorious aromas of dried cherries, spice and leather, which open to a mouth full of cherry, plum, mocha and herb flavors. Cutting a sleek, handsome profile with fine balance, it finishes long and dry, with well-defined, earth accents. Drink now - 2023.
What was once old is now new again. Upon tasting these wines, one can feel the ghosts of the founding fathers of Rioja yet they are done utilizing French oak and have a poised, terroir driven style to them. This young Bodega is one of La Rioja’s real rising stars. After tasting last week, I thought the wines to be quite neo-classical and extremely fine.
75% Tempranillo and 25% Garnacha, this wine maintains all of the elegance and class that one finds in top wines of the area. Don't be misled that this is just elegance alone, being 2015, it possesses plenty of punch and glorious aromas of dried cherries, spice and leather, which open to a mouth full of cherry, plum, mocha and herb flavors. Cutting a sleek, handsome profile with fine balance, it finishes long and dry, with well-defined, earth accents. Drink now - 2023.
2015 ALEGRE VALGANON RIOJA BLANCO
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
$19.99 BTL./$239.88 CASE
This white Rioja is very irresistible from the moment that it is poured! 90% Viura and 10% Garnacha Blanco and aged in used, 600-liter French barrels, the grapes for this wine come from the very Atlantic influenced NW corner of La Rioja in the foothills of the Obarenes Mountains.
Muscular yet cool as a cucumber and chock full of blitzing zesty aspects, this white Rioja has serious breed and style throughout the entire experience. Mineral driven with crystallized lemon and green apple tones. Meticulous farming and winemaking is omni-present at every turn. Dexterous and lithe rose-oil qualities with zesty citrus notes follow into a stony, smoky finish that explodes like fireworks in the mouth. One of the most hedonistic white Rioja wines we have ever tasted, have this with grilled spring salmon to spicy Asian-inspired shrimp dishes or freshly cracked crab. No need for points here, this one gets the bicycle bell around several city blocks high score.
Muscular yet cool as a cucumber and chock full of blitzing zesty aspects, this white Rioja has serious breed and style throughout the entire experience. Mineral driven with crystallized lemon and green apple tones. Meticulous farming and winemaking is omni-present at every turn. Dexterous and lithe rose-oil qualities with zesty citrus notes follow into a stony, smoky finish that explodes like fireworks in the mouth. One of the most hedonistic white Rioja wines we have ever tasted, have this with grilled spring salmon to spicy Asian-inspired shrimp dishes or freshly cracked crab. No need for points here, this one gets the bicycle bell around several city blocks high score.
2011 REMELLURI RIOJA
'LINDES DE REMELLURI' LABASTIDA
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
'LINDES DE REMELLURI' LABASTIDA
$31.99 BTL./$383.88 CASE
One of the great estates of Rioja and made by one of Spain's most prodigal makers, Telmo Rodriguez, Remelluri itself has history that reaches back to the 14th century. The modern estate was founded by Telmo's father Jaime in 1967 and this is where Telmo got his start. After his work at Remelluri, he departed and made a significant name for himself in Spain's wine scene and a few years back returned to his family's famed estate. Following suit of a number of great producers, Telmo has been moving away from ‘branding' as well as from the sometimes flawed Crianza/Reserva system preferring to focus on wines from site which has now led to changes within the system within the Rioja region.
This particular Rioja's name reflects its origin (borders of Lindes) and is the soul of the property. Sexy, pleasurable aromas. Toasted cinnamon, roasted herbs, red licorice, flowers and raspberries. Only French oak is utilized so there are some alluring nutmeg tones beneath. The texture is caressing, palate engaging all while being broad and rich. Gains more strawberry aspects around the edges; harmonious, harmonious and more harmonious with fine-grained structure. The finish is velvety, full and long with notations of cocoa. Unbelievably tasty now, it can be had with a plethora of meat dishes, but it will also age well, too. Drink it now through 2025.
This particular Rioja's name reflects its origin (borders of Lindes) and is the soul of the property. Sexy, pleasurable aromas. Toasted cinnamon, roasted herbs, red licorice, flowers and raspberries. Only French oak is utilized so there are some alluring nutmeg tones beneath. The texture is caressing, palate engaging all while being broad and rich. Gains more strawberry aspects around the edges; harmonious, harmonious and more harmonious with fine-grained structure. The finish is velvety, full and long with notations of cocoa. Unbelievably tasty now, it can be had with a plethora of meat dishes, but it will also age well, too. Drink it now through 2025.
