“88% Tempranillo, 7% Graciano, & 5% Mazuelo ...estate grown & bottled. The vyds [Oyón & Laguardia (Álava)] are located in the upper portion of the Rioja Alavesa, @ an altitude of 1,200-1,800 ft. Grapes are de-stemmed & undergo fermentation at 28°C.” Typically, “the grapes then go through a 27-day maceration period with light pumping over, followed by malolactic fermentation. Aged for 26 mos in FR & AM oak barrels, ff'd by at least 3 yrs in the bottle. 13.76% ABV, 2.4 g/L R.S., & 5.50 g/L T.A.;” 148,000 cs made.

N: RIPE berries with undertones of vanilla?

P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG finish with a tangy/swtness & POSS incipient quasi-bitter flatness to the dusty tannins. For now, but should also make its 20th. 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. 93 pts Decanter's Tasting Panel [though later, 88 @ their '17 World Wine Awards], 93 WS, 92 WE @ $38, 91 Wine & Spirits, and 90 Guía Peñin. [This vendor's now $29.95 is as good as any of wine-searcher's offerings.]

Note: Also tasted 7/28/2018

Typically, 97% Tempranillo & 3% Graciano "from the oldest Tempranillo & Graciano vyds were carefully selected, then macerated prior to alcoholic fermentation, which took place @ 26-28 C with regular pumping over, followed by post-fermentation maceration. Aged 28 mos in mixed oak barrels, completing its ageing with a further 36 mos in bottle prior to release." 4,500 cases made.

N: Slightly closed, but seems RIPE with distinct notes of vanilla

P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a refined swtness to the DUSTY tannins. NEEDS through '21, & if the frt holds, a potential steal @ this vendor's $23.95, which is $1 < wine-searcher's next lowest. 14% ABV; My EXC-, which COULD be quite low... eventually. 92 pts WS, 91 ea Vinous (Raynolds) & Decanter 3x (Button, Panel, & '17 World Wine Awards), 90 ea WA & '18 Decanter World Wine Awards (with Silver), and 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson (Hemming).

Typically, "90% Tempranillo from a selection of the best grapes coming from 30 year-old, low yielding Rioja Alta bush vines & 10% Mazuelo from our Viña Lanciano Vyd. Destemmed & fermented in s/s tanks at a controlled temp of 30 C, the wine was then macerated for 3 wks, over-pumping the must daily to favor higher extraction of colour & aromas. It was aged 24 mos in AM & FR oak barrels, ff'd by a min of 36 mos in the bottle."

N: Closed; Vanilla, smoke, with berries underneath

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. My VG+/EXC-, arguably the higher for QPR. 93 pts Suckling. [This vendor's $20.95 puts it in the top 1/2 of wine-searcher's postings.]

Note: Also tasted on 2/16/2019

84% Tempranillo, 9% Graciano, 5% Mazuelo, & 2% Garnacha from their "Ygay Estate: 300 ha of vyds surrounding the winery in the southernmost point of Rioja Alta. Altitude ranges from 320-485 m above sea level.

"Grapes are first de-stemmed & then fermented in s/s tanks for 8 days at controlled temp in constant skin contact. During fermentation pumping over and punching down operations are regularly carried out. Afterwards the solid parts of the grapes are pressed in vertical presses with double screws. Aged for 19 mos in 225 L AM oak barrels." 10,000 cs imported.

N: Slightly closed; RIPE berries with smoke & vanilla underneath; Intensity lurking?

P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Deserves/NEEDS another yr, then approaching its 10th? My EXC-; 94 pts Tim Atkin, 93 WA, & 92 WS. [This vendor's $20.95 puts it in the TOP 15% of wine-searcher's postings.]

Note: Also tasted on 2/9 & 2/16/2019.

Tempranillo 70%, Garnacha 20%, Mazuelo and Graciano 10% grown on tertiary era chalky-clay terraces; "Fermentation with indigenous yeasts in oak vats. Aged for 24 mos in casks made in our cooperage from selected oak (with a lt-med toasting). Prior to bottling the wine is fined with fresh egg white. Once bottled it is left to undergo a rounding process for 12 mos minimum in our cellar."

N: Slightly closed; Vanilla, poss smoke, slightly atop RIPE berries; Intensity lurking?

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which only somewhat resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the considerable, DUSTY tannins. NEEDS through '22, then going beyond its 10th. 14% ABV; My EXC-, with potential for more eventually. 94 pts Suckling & 92 WA. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

70% Tempranillo, 17% Syrah, & 13% C.S.; 30,000 cases made

N: Closed; RIPE berries with undertones of choc, poss pyrazines?

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, ULT very, VERY slightly spicy finish with a tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, then EASILY making its 10th. My EXC-, poss EXC-/EXC for this potentially elegant wine. 93 pts WS, 92+ WA, 91 pts ea RJonWine & Guía Peñín, 90 & Silver @ '17 Decanter World Wine Awards, and Bronze @ '17 Int'l Wine Challenge. [This vendor's $24.95 is as good as any of wine-searcher's postings.]