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Riojano Wines

Rioja, located south of the Cantabria mountains in north-central Spain, is the country’s best known and most historic wine region. The emphasis in Rioja is squarely on Tempranillo, although Garnacha, Graciano and Mazuelo (all red grapes) are also grown and frequently blended with Tempranillo. As for white wines, Viura (a k a Macabeo) yields a basic, crisp wine with apple and green melon characteristics. Rosé wines made from Tempranillo and/or Garnacha also play a significant role in Riojano winemaking.

Rioja is divided into three subzones: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja, with many of the region’s best wines hailing from Alta and Alavesa while the warmer, more southerly Baja region specializes more in Garnacha and darker, fuller-bodied Tempranillos.

Today, Rioja produces many of Spain’s best wines as well as many good values. Wine Enthusiast’s Rioja wine guide includes Rioja wine ratings and Rioja wine reviews.

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Bodegas Roda 2001 Cirsion Red (Rioja)

Editors' Choice

Price $200

Dark as night, pure as silk, and rich as a sultan. This one wine defines the best of the new wave; a great high-end product from a perfect vintage. It’s intense, spicy, racy and still soft enough to wrap yourself around. Licorice, crushed peppercorn, chocolate, espresso and blackberry are just some of what you can pull from this baby. Cellar a few years then explore. — M.S. (9/1/2004)

Bodegas Roda 2009 Cirsion Tempranillo (Rioja)

Price $250

Solid as a battleship, with lemony oak, marzipan and layer upon layer of black fruit aromas. Almost syrupy in its richness but not fully; it’s chewy and creamy, with vital acids. The flavors are mega ripe and rich, emphasizing blackberry, black cherry preserves, fudge and fig paste. Yet at the same time it’s an ethereal wine; the epitome of modern Rioja. Drink now… — M.S. (4/1/2012)

San Vicente 2005 Red (Rioja)

Editors' Choice

Price $65

Talk about a wine that makes you take notice. This is simply great modern Rioja. The nose is creamy but honest, with black fruit, mocha and finely tanned leather. The palate gives the whole range of berry and tree fruits, with expansive tannins and just enough core acidity to make it stunning. Ultra stylish and delicious; another huge success for the Eguren family… — M.S. (12/15/2008)

Viñedos de Paganos 2005 La Nieta Tempranillo (Rioja)

Price $150

The best new release in the Eguren family’s collection of modern Rioja wines is this small-production, 100% Tempranillo. It’s a true nuevo classico with proper touches of smoked meat, herbs and sweet black fruits as well as a lush, round mouthfeel that culminates in a mile-long finish. Destined to rock your socks off. Just over 300 cases produced. Imported by… — M.S. (9/1/2007)

Viñedos de Paganos 2004 El Puntido Tempranillo (Rioja)

Price $57

As expected, the wine exhibits a dense black color, with mineral, burnt toast and dark fruit on the bouquet. The flavor profile offers cured meat, leather, graphite and plenty of blackberry, mocha, caramel and coffee. Beautiful modern Rioja. 4,000 cases made. Imported by Tempranillo, Inc. — M.S. (9/1/2007)

Remírez de Ganuza 2005 Old Vines Unfiltered Red (Rioja)

Editors' Choice

Price $82

Concentrated to the hilt, with molten black fruit, coconut and mint aromas. The palate is driven, tannic, pure and features dynamite flavors of black fruit, bitter chocolate and spice cake. So beautiful and big, but also showing elegance and restraint. Drinkable now but will age well for another seven years or more. — M.S. (4/1/2010)

Finca Allende 2001 Aurus Tempranillo (Rioja)

Editors' Choice

Price $184

Miguel Angel de Gregorio makes wines that match his exuberant personality, and Aurus, with 85% old-vine Tempranillo and 15% Graciano, is his premier offering. The 2001’s exotic nose pumps licorice, clove, nutmeg and vanilla on top of the ripest black-fruit aromas going. With pillowy tannins, unmatched breadth and huge flavors of blackberry, plum and chocolate… — M.S. (6/1/2005)

Aurus 1996 Aurus Tempranillo (Rioja)

Price $130

Made from old Tempranillo vines, this is a stunning wine whose density is matched by its finesse, resulting in an amazing taste and sense experience. Opaque in color, it displays deep cherry, earth and smoke aromas. On the palate, the flavors broaden to include blackberry and tobacco. Superbly balanced despite its heft, it closes with a long mouth-coating finish… — M.M. (8/1/2000)

Most Reviewed Varietals [All]

Grenache Red Blend Rosé Spanish Red Spanish White Tempranillo White Blend

Most Reviewed Producers [All]

Abando Abel Mendoza Agrícola Labastida Alabanza Alba de Breton Alma de Tobia Altanza Altino Amador Garcia Aradon Arbanta Ares Artadi Aurus Baigorri Baron de Escal Baron De Ley Barón de Oña Barzagoso Benjamin Romeo Berberana Beronia Bodega Classica Bodega Jario Bodega San Pedro Apóstol Bodegas Abel de Mendoza Bodegas Artesanas Bodegas Barriosa Bodegas Berceo Bodegas Bilbainas Bodegas Breton Bodegas El Indiano Bodegas Escudero Bodegas Faustino Bodegas Franco-Españolas Bodegas la Aldea Bodegas LAN Bodegas Landaluce Bodegas Leza García Bodegas Luis Gurpegui Muga Bodegas Martinez Corta Bodegas Martinez Lacuesta Bodegas Muriel Bodegas Nava Bodegas Navajas Bodegas Olarra Bodegas Ondarre Bodegas Ontanon Bodegas Palacio Bodegas Palacio Especial Bodegas Riojanas Bodegas Riolanc Bodegas Roda Bodegas San Prudencio Bodegas Tobia Bodegas Valdemar Bodegas Vínícola Real Bodegas y Viñedos Noe Bodegas Zugober Calma Cameron Hughes Campellares Campillo Campo Viejo Capitoso Carlos Serres Casa de la Reina Casa Solar Castillo de Cuzcurrita Castillo de Fuenmayor Castillo Labastida Colina Verde Conde de Jauregui Conde de la Salceda Consejo de la Alta Contador Contino Cortijo Cosme Palacio y Hermanos Cota 585 Coto de Imaz Covila Criadores de Rioja Cueto Culman de LAN CVNE Darien Delius Diez-Caballero Dinastía Vivanco Dios Ares Dominio de Conte Don Ramón Don Román DSG Vineyards El Circulo El Coto El Molino de Puelles Exopto Fernández de Piérola Finca Allende Finca del Marquesado Finca La Emperatriz Finca Nueva Finca Valpiedra Flourish Gran Familia Granja Ntra, Sra. de Remelluri Guzmán Aldazabal Hacienda la Concordia Hazaña Heras Cordon Heredad Ugarte Ilurce J. Garcia Carrion Jarrarte Jarrero Juan Carlos Sancha La Rioja Alta Lagunilla LAN Lar de Paula Lar de Sotomayor Lealtanza Loriñon Luberri Luis Alegre Luis Cañas Maetierra Dominum Marques de Arienzo Marqués de Arviza Marqués de Cáceres Marqués de Campo Nuble Marqués de Elciego Marques de Griñon Marques de la Concordia Marqués de Murrieta Marqués de Riscal Marqués de Terán Marques de Tomares Marques de Ulia Marqués de Vargas Marqués de Villamagna Marqués de Vitoria Marqués del Puerto Martín Códax Martinez Bujanda Martinez Laorden Massimo Monopole Montebuena Montecillo Muga Mutuo Obalo Ondarre Origin Ostatu Otanon Pagos de Valde Orca Palacios Remondo Pardoño Peciña Peñagudo Puerta Colorada Pujanza R. de Ayala Lete E Hijos R. Lopez de Heredia Raiza Ramirez de la Piscina Ramón Bilbao Ramon Cardova Remelluri Remírez de Ganuza Rentas de Fincas Rio Madre Rioja Vega Rivarey San Pedro San Vicente Sancho Barón Santana Señorío de Cuzcurrita Señorío de P. Peciña Senorio de San Vincente Señorio de Uñuela Sierra Cantabria Siglo Siglo Saco Solabal Solar de Randez Sonsierra Soto de Torres Telmo Rodríguez Tornasol Torres Urbina Valcortes Valdelana Valdemar Valenciso Vallformosa Vallobera Valsacro Valsanzo Valserrano Vaza Viña Bujanda Viña Eguía Viña Herminia Viña Hermosa Viña Ijalba Viña Izadi Viña Los Valles Viña Olabarri Viña Palaciega Viña Salceda Viña Soledad Viñedos de Paganos Vizconde de Ayala Xavier Flouret Ysios Zitua

2008 John Tyler Bacigalupi Vineyard

A wonderful wine that’s rich and delicious. The raspberry and cherry…

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