Granja Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva

Description

Rioja lovers beware; Granja Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva is an absolutely stunning Gran Reserva Rioja. I have both the 2014 and the 2016 vintages in stock. The nose of both vintages displays a complex array of aromas from ripe dark cherries, blackberries and plums with subtle vanilla, chocolate and cedary notes and delicate floral hints. On the palate Granja Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva 2014 reveals an excellent balance between fruit concentration and well-integrated light oak. Rich layers of black fruits, including blackcurrants and blackberries, dominate the palate accompanied by a touch of ripe red fruit. The aging in French oak barrels adds a touch of elegance and depth, infusing the wine with delicate flavours of tobacco, leather and a hint of spices. With a medium to full body and velvety tannins the wine has a luscious and smooth mouthfeel and a long and lingering finish.

The 2016 vintage does not disappoint. As always it is a stunning expression of the Rioja region, showcasing the elegance and complexity of the Gran Reserva style with a distinctive nod to the nuances of the vintage. The 2016 growing season was has been described as excellent, triumphant even. A warm summer allowed for a longer, slower ripening process which makes Granja Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva 2016 well-structured and balanced with fresh acidity and a depth and concentration of flavours. On the nose, the wine opens with aromas of dark fruit – blackberries, plums and ripe cherries – complemented by subtle notes of leather, tobacco and a hint of spice from oak aging. The 2016 vintage also brings forward an underlying minerality that speaks to the unique terroir of the Remelluri estate where organic farming practices and a deep respect for the land are key to the wine’s character.

The palate is medium- to full-bodied with a silky texture, supported by fine-grained tannins that lend structure without overpowering the fruit. Flavours of dark red fruits and black fruits combined with earthy undertones, leather and a touch of vanilla from the oak lead to a long, harmonious finish. The freshness of the vintage shines through, balancing the wine’s rich complexity and making it approachable now, while also suggesting it will evolve beautifully with further aging. Overall, the 2016 Granja Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva is a refined, elegant wine with the balance and depth that typifies the best of Rioja.

There is a wave of winemakers fighting back against the commercial style of Rioja and Telmo Rodriguez is at the forefront;  the first time I met him, in February 2016, he told me that Rioja should not be a “recipe”, that there is fortunately no longer one style of Rioja as modern winemakers like him focus on the fruit, the ‘terroir’ and more traditional methods. Telmo has been described by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate as “Rioja’s number one Terroirist”. In this wine from old vines on the Remelluri estate owned by Telmo & his sister Amaia, Tempranillo grape is blended with a little Graciano and Garnacha (Grenache); minimal intervention is practised and the wine is certified organic. Rioja is one of two wine regions with Spain’s highest qualification level, DOC or DoCa, the other region being Priorat. There is so much Rioja on the UK market and much of it over-priced, overly sweet and over-oaked because that became the trend from the turn of the century. But there is a danger of the DOC qualification being devalued.

You can also send a bottle of Granja Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva 2014 as a gift.