Rioja Collection, Styles for All Tastes
Red Riojas to raise your glass
Rioja continues to be Spain’s most prestigious Denominación, both nationwide and internationally. It’s a real treasure trove and one of the most important grape-growing and winemaking areas in the world. One of its characteristics is the variety of styles that coexist there. This collection brings together three fascinating red Crianzas that showcase three of its different aspects: a Crianza that expresses the characteristics of the Tempranillo variety in one of the best areas of the Denominación; one of the best single-varietals made from Graciano – another traditional variety – that are made in the D.O.; and a classic from a century-old winery that’s been expertly adapted to modern tastes. A winning trio to raise your glass,
- 2 bottles of La Tarara Crianza 2019. Bodegas Obalo. D.O.Ca. Rioja.
- 2 bottles of Amador Medrano Valdegamarra Graciano 2021. B. Medrano Irazu. D.O.Ca. Rioja.
- 2 bottles of Montecillo Edición Limitada 2017. B. Montecillo. D.O.Ca. Rioja.
General information
La Tarara Crianza 2019 is one of the great wines from Bodegas Obalo, a renowned winery located in the Sonsierra region of La Rioja, in the municipality of Ábalos. There, surrounded by a spectacular sea of vineyards and protected by the Sierra Cantabria mountain range, they produce a line of wines in which respect for local tradition prevails. This is a modern Crianza that combines oak and fruit and is of surprisingly high quality year after year. This particular vintage is one of the best so far this century in Rioja, that of 2019, which was rated Excellent.
Amador Medrano Valdegamarra Graciano 2021 is named after the winery’s mastermind, Amador Medrano. It’s a single-varietal Graciano that represents particularly well the character of this grape variety, which is powerfully present in the most traditional Rioja blends. There’s no doubt about it, it’s a perfect wine for getting to know the Medrano Irazu family winery, whose reputation is growing. The grapes came from the Valdegamarra estate, located at 610 metres above sea level at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria mountain range. Here the vines are cultivated in deep, low-yielding, calcareous-clay soils that are perfectly suited to this variety, which adds a touch of verve and freshness to classic Rioja blends. A short but effective stint in oak barrels rounded off an overall excellent wine.
The last is a red wine from Montecillo, an extraordinary case of a winery that spans three different centuries and currently boasts a superb market position. Winemaker Mercedes García Rupérez is the key to its success. Montecillo Edición Limitada 2017 is the firm's wine that most bears her mark, as Mercedes creates a personal interpretation of each vintage to produce the winery's most modern Rioja. In this case, it’s a blend of 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano. And after 20 months of ageing in oak, the result is a fruit-forward red that’s intense, very balanced and opulent as well as elegant.
General information
La Tarara Crianza 2019 is one of the great wines from Bodegas Obalo, a renowned winery located in the Sonsierra region of La Rioja, in the municipality of Ábalos. There, surrounded by a spectacular sea of vineyards and protected by the Sierra Cantabria mountain range, they produce a line of wines in which respect for local tradition prevails. This is a modern Crianza that combines oak and fruit and is of surprisingly high quality year after year. This particular vintage is one of the best so far this century in Rioja, that of 2019, which was rated Excellent.
Amador Medrano Valdegamarra Graciano 2021 is named after the winery’s mastermind, Amador Medrano. It’s a single-varietal Graciano that represents particularly well the character of this grape variety, which is powerfully present in the most traditional Rioja blends. There’s no doubt about it, it’s a perfect wine for getting to know the Medrano Irazu family winery, whose reputation is growing. The grapes came from the Valdegamarra estate, located at 610 metres above sea level at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria mountain range. Here the vines are cultivated in deep, low-yielding, calcareous-clay soils that are perfectly suited to this variety, which adds a touch of verve and freshness to classic Rioja blends. A short but effective stint in oak barrels rounded off an overall excellent wine.
The last is a red wine from Montecillo, an extraordinary case of a winery that spans three different centuries and currently boasts a superb market position. Winemaker Mercedes García Rupérez is the key to its success. Montecillo Edición Limitada 2017 is the firm's wine that most bears her mark, as Mercedes creates a personal interpretation of each vintage to produce the winery's most modern Rioja. In this case, it’s a blend of 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano. And after 20 months of ageing in oak, the result is a fruit-forward red that’s intense, very balanced and opulent as well as elegant.
