La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Vertical Blindtasted

Remelluri began in the 14th century in Rioja Alvesa as a group of vineyards and a winery run by Hieronymite monks. The monastery was burned down in the civil war of 1837 and bought by a private landowner in 1845 after the war was over. The vineyards were kept together until 1962, when the estate was bought by Spanish industrialist Jaime Rodriguez Salis, who funded the restoration of the old vineyards, and remains the current owner. There are now 380 acres planted, of which two thirds were originally planted centuries ago, and all of which are organically farmed.

The present winery was built in 1967. The current winemaker is the renowned Telmo Rodriguez (son of owner Jaime Rodriguez), who apprenticed at Cos d'Estournel and with Gerard Chave in Hermitage. In recent years, he has started his own company making wines from other regions in Spain, while continuing to lead the winemaking team at Remelluri.

Remelluri is one of the benchmarks for the traditional Rioja style influenced by Bordeaux, a sharp contrast to the newer, high extraction, high alcohol Riojas coming from Rioja Baja.

• 1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia 92 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  Light medium golden color with 2 millimeter clear meniscus; lifted, tart kumquat, lemon peel, herbal, tart lemon, tart pineapple, meaty nose; very youthful, medium-plus bodied, tangy, tart citron, kumquat, lemon zest, mineral, tart baked lemon, light ginger palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish 92+ points (90% Viura, 10% Malvasia)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2009 Kirkland Signature Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de Nalys 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Medium dark ruby color; tart black cherry, oak spice, black raspberry, smoke, berry nose; tart berry, black cherry, licorice, light pepper, baked berry, tart black fruit, graphite palate; medium-plus finish (59% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 4% Vaccarese, 4% Counoise, 3% Mourvedre, 3% Muscardin, 2% Cinsault; an ok value at about $20, and fairly complex, but fruitier and less focused than your average CdP)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1999 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Group's #1 (my #1) – 32 pts; 3 firsts, 2 seconds, 1 third, 0 last places – medium dark red violet color; nice, charcoal, tart black fruit, roasted black fruit, berry nose; solid, tar, tart blackberry, tart black fruit palate with grip; accessible now but could use 2-3 years; medium-plus finish 91+ points

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2007 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Group's #2 (my #2) – 44 pts.; 2, 3, 2, 2 - very dark red violet color; chocolate covered raisin, dried berry, cardamom, light pepper, black fruit nose; tasty, youthful, rich, chocolate, tart berry, tart black fruit, tar palate with firm tannins; needs 3-4 years; long finish 91+ points (90% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha, 5% Graciano; 16 mos. in French & American 6 year old oak)

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1989 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Gran Reserva 88 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Group's #3 (my #6) – 43 pts.; 2, 1, 2, 0 - bricking medium dark red violet color; distinct Cynar (Italian artichoke-based bitter aperitif), American oak, menthol, chocolate, sasparilla nose; mature, menthol, tangy, tart roasted plum, sasparilla, tart chocolate, tart prune palate; medium-plus finish 88+ points

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1996 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva 86 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Group's #4 (my #7) – 48 pts.; 3, 1, 0, 1 - bricking medium dark red violet color; sweet tobacco, weedy, American oak, sweet black smoke nose; mature, subtle smoke, charcoal, tart plum, dill, American oak palate; medium-plus finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1997 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva 84 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Group's #5 (my #8) – 48 pts.; 1, 1, 4, 1 - bricking medium red violet color; mature, oak, VA, dill, smoke, hickory barbecue sauce nose; mature, oak, hickory barbecue sauce, tart plum palate; medium-plus finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1994 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva 91 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Group's #6 (my #3) – 58 pts.; 0, 0, 2, 1 - bricking dark red violet color; lifted, mature, tobacco, cigar box, charcoal, American oak nose; dense, tobacco, charcoal, tar, dried fig palate with chewy tannins; needs 4-5 years, but will any fruit be hanging on by then; long finish

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1991 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Group's #7 (my #4) – 61 pts.; 0, 2, 0, 4 - bricking medium dark red violet color; VA, fig paste, oak, roast plum, dried fig nose; solid, youthful, dried fig, light milk chocolate palate with near medium acidity; still needs 3 years yet; medium-plus finish 90+ points

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 1990 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja Reserva 90 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  Group's #8 (my #5) – 62 pts.; 0, 1, 0, 2 - bricking medium dark red violet color; mature, aromatic, tobacco, spicy plum, dried berry, cedar, charcoal nose; maturing, tobacco, tart berry, tart plum, charcoal palate; medium-plus finish 90+ points

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No