Vina Ijalba Rioja Crianza

90% Tempranillo and 10% Graciano combine in this Riojan masterpiece. Aged for 12 months in a mix of 1st, 2nd and 3rd fill French oak barrels, this wine has the prefect balance of ripe red berry and cassis fruits and oak tannins. Designed to love bottle ageing, it has a minimum of 18 months before release but has a good few years until it reaches its peak. Try with a range of meatier pasta dishes and make sure that you always have another bottle handy, as one is rarely enough.

• Decanter magazine, March 2020 issue, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Simon Field MW – ‘Plums and cassis contrast nicely with savoury smoky bacon notes; dense and succulent with a long velvety finish’ (2016 vintage)
• Gold Medal – International Organic Wine Awards 2019 (2016 vintage)

Dionisio Ruiz planted his first vines back in 1975 with vineyards located on a former old open-cast mine. The revival of these once production poor soils into healthy, organic soils forms the backbone of the Viña Ijalba estate today. Viña Ijalba was the first winery in Rioja to commit to organic production. Not only that, they’ve also revived the land for growing indigenous and now rare Riojan varietals, like Maturana Blanca, Maturana Tinta and Tempranillo Blanco. They lay claim to being the first winery in Rioja to produce a wine made exclusively of 100% Graciano, which is traditionally used as a blending partner with the celebrated variety of the region, Tempranillo. Located just a five minutes drive from the capital of Rioja, Logroño they produce a far reaching range of wines from the young, fresh and fruity Joven styles to the more traditional aged wines of Crianza and Reserva. Both Crianza and Reserva wines must spend a minimum of one year in barrel, with Reserva having a minimum ageing requirement between oak and bottle of three years before release. 70% of their grapes are harvested by hand. Not only has Viña Ijalba managed to fully revive a former open-cast mine for organic winemaking, but they’re revival of almost forgotten local varietals that bring a distinctive element to their wines has also been quite impressive.

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