Tasting Notes
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.
There is now a new wave of winemakers fighting back against the commercial style of Rioja and Telmo Rodriguez is at the forefront; I have had the good fortune to meet him a couple of times and he has 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. The 2013 vintage was not as hot as some previous vintages but the wine from this vintage is still displaying lots of fruit. In addition the cooler climate has helped combine the earthy red fruit with spice and savouriness - and with amazing elegance. It's a complex Rioja Reserva and a refreshing acidity cuts through the richness making it very drinkable indeed.
Food Pairing
Recommended to drink with game, duck, goose, steak and other red meats, poultry, cheese, charcuterie and paella
Producer's Notes
"The nose is very pronounced, displaying typical Rioja aromas of ripe strawberries, dark plums, cream, vanilla and hints of sweet liquorice. On the palate it is elegant, with well-integrated alcohol, fine-grained tannins and good flavour concentration."
Awards
93 points Decanter Spain Guide 2021
"From Telmo Rodriguez's family seat, this is Rioja at its most luxuriously poised and expressive. Aged in oak for 17 months, it has the silkiest feel to go with slowly developing, savoury maturity and perfectly ripe blackberry."
93 points RobertParker.com Jun 2019
"The flagship red 2013 Reserva, the wine most people call simply Remelluri, was cropped from a cool, wet, challenging year, and it has a little less alcohol and higher acidity than the previous harvest. It had an élevage of 20 months in oak barriques. It has a herbal twist reflecting the conditions of the year, and it is developed and polished. It has the grippy, Nebbiolo-like tannins that are a signature of the Remelluri wines, a little more evident in a year like 2013. A Remelluri for food."
17+ points JancisRobinson.com Jun 21
"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."
