Remelluri Reserva

The estate red 2014 Reserva was produced with the grapes from a challenging year with abundant rain and high temperatures in September. They started picking the 11th of October and had to rush and do a severe selection of grapes. It fermented in small vats and oak casks and matured in barriques for 20 to 21 months. They consider 2014 the breakthrough vintage for Remelluri since Telmo Rodriguez came back in 2010, as it takes time until things are sorted. 2014 was a challenging vintage, but when they compare it with 2013, they still favor 2014. I like it, but honestly, it pales in comparison to the Granja Gran Reserva 2014. 220,000 bottles produced. It was bottled between April and May 2017.

Rioja must be one of the most evocative aromas there is. The combination of sweet oak and bramble fruit is instant and transportive – and this has it spot on. There's fortitude here too, with firmer tannins and fuller body than many of the classics (eg CVNE, Ardanza et al). In that way, it is the perfect blend of classic and modern, and it has incredible potential for an inexpensive wine – 20 years in bottle quite comfortably. When you get asked which one wine you could drink forever, this would be a strong contender.