Cuentavinas Rioja Single Vineyard El Tiznado 2021 75cl
£145.21
El Tiznado comes from a south-west facing vineyard planted in 1923 with closely-spaced Tempranillo vines showing great genetic diversity thanks to the 'massale' selection originally employed The shallow sandy soil originated from the weathering of calcareous sandstone, and there is notable presence of iron oxides Cuentavinas was founded by Eduardo Eguren and Carlota Gonzalez: fifth generation of the illustrious Eguren family, pre-eminent name in the wine world, which has accrued savoir-faire over the decades through such prestigious projects as Sierra Cantabria, Vinedos de Paganos and Teso la Monja Eduardo felt the need to remain near San Vicente de la Sonsierra, town of his fathers, so with the characteristic patience required for anything that needs to be developed slowly, he and Carlota went on innumerable sorties to scour the local districts at the foot of El Tolono (mountain) to seek something that would fill them with enthusiasm In the miniscule village of Pecina, they found the essence of what they were searching for Like a journey to a wonderful old tale, its few streets preserve the essence of the past, with restored wine presses and and few, but beautiful, ancient stone houses They also found the perfect link to the family's history, since Edu's maternal grandfather was nicknamed 'el pecinero' It is not clear if they chose the place, or the place chose them
La Rioja Alta SA, '890', Rioja Gran Reserva 2010 75cl
£223.07
Classic, timeless Rioja full of aromatic nuances of black plum compote, tobacco leaf, spice and chocolate enveloping a pure, velvety palate
La Rioja Alta SA, '904 Seleccion Especial Rioja Gran Reserva 2015 75cl
£87.40
Silky, elegant and full of finesse with notes of wild strawberry, red cherry and plum layered with tobacco, coffee, cedar and vanilla through to an everlasting finish
Cuentavinas Rioja Single Vineyard Alomado 2021 75cl
£54.38
This single-vineyard field blend is a contemporary take on a traditional style, and incorporates around 20% of co-fermented white varieties It has pinpoint precision and bright vivacity, with crisp, juicy cherry fruit and attractively herbal leafiness At the intersection of freshness and ripeness, it shows extraordinary integration of all its components and is so elegant as to be almost delicate Its depth becomes evident on the palate, with black cherry, dark chocolate, almond and liquorice, which sustain on the long finish An astonishingly brilliant wine—amazing!
Cuentavinas Rioja Garnacha 2021 75cl
£54.38
From vines aged more than 100 years, situated in a vineyard on the Ebro's right bank, this has a vibrant raspberry juice colour and irresistibly juicy Garnacha aroma of strawberry cordial and hints of morello cherry and orange zest It's a pleasure just to inhale it for a few minutes Upon taking a sip, one is confronted by glorious freshness and purity, seamlessly supple texture, exceptional balance and elegance Raspberries, liquorice and pink peppercorns An utterly lovely wine
Nivarius, 'Edicion Limitada', Rioja Blanco 2019 75cl
£22.10
A refreshing, textured and beautifully balanced white Rioja with baked apple, floral and balsamic notes, layered with nutty tones and a hint of minerality
Torre de Ona, Finca Martelo Rioja Reserva 2016 75cl
£40.51
Polished, elegant and refined, with rich flavours of ripe berried fruit complemented by sweet spice, liquorice and clove through to a long, sleek finish
Bodegas Ondarre, Rivallana Tinto, Rioja 2023 75cl
£12.08
An easy drinking, modern style Rioja, medium bodied with juicy red cherry and vanilla flavours
Bideona, 'Mayela', Rioja Alavesa 2023 75cl
£14.17
Pure aromas of dark cherry and blackberry are layered with a touch of violet and clove through to a concentrated palate beautifully balanced by chalky tannins and a long, mineral finish
Vinedos Sierra Cantabria Rioja Reserva Unica 2020 75cl
£30.41
This is an outstanding Rioja Reserva, from vines at least thirty years old, growing around the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra: 97% Tempranillo with a seasoning of Graciano More French than American oak is used for the ageing, and only 30% of the barrels are first-fill, meaning that the initial - and enduring - impression of the wine is of the wonderfully expressive, lifted, aromatic fruit The barrels simply serve to round out the texture and add complexity to the wine, their flavour never dominates
Senorio de San Vicente Rioja San Vicente 2020 75cl
£56.99
Described by Robert Parker as Rioja made in the image of a Chateau Margaux, where richness is combined with elegance," this is an exceptional and unique wine, made entirely from Tempranillo Peludo, which grows around the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra 'Peludo' means 'hairy', and it is so-named because of the downy undersides of the leaves Unlike most Tempranillo, Peludo requires a long season to ripen, and produces unusually low yields The wine comes from a single vineyard called La Canoca, which sits at close to 600m elevation at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria mountains All these factors make producing it a risky business, and indeed in some years, the Eguren family has not produced any However, the risk is worth it due to its unforgettable intensity, complexity and ageability A sensational, must-try wine that is irresistible young yet capable of cellaring for many years
Bideona Vino de Pueblo, Laguardia L4GD4, Rioja 2020 75cl
£35.29
A light and perfumed wine with delicate, floral aromas of wild strawberries and violets complemented by a long, mineral core
Sierra Cantabria Rioja Gran Reserva 2016 75cl
£33.16
A colossally complex, sumptuous, beautifully mature Gran Reserva, with a fabulously intricate and inviting bouquet of vanilla, fig, dark chocolate, vanilla bean, black truffle and autumn leaves The palate utterly lives up to the expectation set by the nose: super-soft, mature tannins; full-bodied and crammed with pronounced flavours of dates, seasoned wood, liquorice, hot tar, woodsmoke and brown cardamom Superb length on the palate Awesome wine, outstanding quality
Vinedos Sierra Cantabria Rioja Finca El Bosque 2021 75cl
£77.04
An incredibly distinguished wine from the tiny, 14 hectare, El Bosque vineyard, planted on a deep gravel terrace overlooking the Ebro River The Egurens recognised the similarity of this well-drained site to the great growths of Bordeaux, and the concentration and complexity of its miniscule annual yield are truly awesome One to cellar for an extremely special occasion The exceptional quality of the vineyard is reflected in the intensity of aromas and flavours, exquisite finesse and extraordinary length, and the ability to mature for many years
Vinedos Sierra Cantabria Rioja Finca El Bosque 2020 75cl
£77.04
An incredibly distinguished wine from the tiny, 14 hectare, El Bosque vineyard, planted on a deep gravel terrace overlooking the Ebro River Sierra Cantabria's Eguren family recognised the similarity of this well-drained site to the great growths of Bordeaux, and the concentration and complexity of its miniscule annual yield are truly awesome A wine for an extremely special occasion The exceptional quality of the vineyard is reflected in the intensity of aromas and flavours, exquisite finesse and extraordinary length, and the ability to mature for many years