Rioja Vega

Initially started as the dream of one man, Don Felipe Ugalde in 1882, this winery has seen ongoing growth and development over the years. Don’s aim was simple, to be one of the countries most prestigious Bodega’s. Although his winery passed down the family line, it was through marriage that it became united with Bodegas Muerza, hence losing its identity. Today it is owned by the group Principe de Viana who acquired it in 1983 providing investment in new equipment, staff and in 2001 a new winery, 10km outside Logrono, complete with an underground ageing cellar. The new cellars incorporated modern equipment such as self-weighing hoppers, pneumatic presses and self-emptying stainless steel vats. This level of development has allowed not only the fruit from their own vineyards to be processed but also that of surrounding contract growers so that it has been able to produce this range of great value for money wines.

This is where we begin to see more complexity of flavour. The nose has aromas of freshly picked berry fruits with a lovely hint of sweet vanilla. The palate is more intense in flavour with plum, blackcurrant leaf and tobacco aromas. Great balance and wonderful length on the finish.

Delicious with a rack of lamb with a rosemary and manchego crust, roasted sweet potato and green beans.

A blend of ripe Tempranillo from Alavesa, with 10% Garnacha (Grenache) which gives warmth and an abundance of red fruits to the palate, along with 5% of ripe Graciano, which adds freshness and structure. The grapes are all hand-picked, then hand sorted at the winery to ensure only the best grapes are used, and then crushed and fermented, each variety separately in a mixture of small steel tanks with a proportion being fermented in new American oak, all using natural yeasts. Once the wine has been fermented and the correct colour and tannins levels extracted, the new wine is then transferred into small American oak casks to age in the cellars for around 14-18 months, before final blending, and then bottling, the wine is then aged for a further 2 years minimum before release.

Decanter 2022, 90 points.