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Rioja

Rioja Demoninación de Origine Calificada is Spain’s most important wine region. Located in northern Spain, it comprises 135,000 vineyard acres and was the first official appellation in Spain, earning its official DO status in 1926. In 1991 it became Spain’s first DOCa, Spain’s most prestigious appellation category. The DOCa is divided into three subzones: La Rioja Alavesa in the northeast; La Rioja Alta in the southwest; and La Rioja Baja in the east. About 75 percent of Rioja wines are reds, with Tempranillo the predominant grape. Garnacha (Grenache), Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano, a spicy, high-acidity red grape, are also allowed. White wines are made from Macabeo, Garnacha Blanca and Malvasia. Wines were made in this region well before the Romans arrived, though the Romans then the medieval monks refined vineyard management and wine production. In the 19th century French families migrated to Rioja after phylloxera wiped out their vineyards, and the French helped establish the tradition of wine blends, still part of Rioja winemaking. According to the rules for the appellation, a wine labelled a simple Rioja can spend less than a year in an oak aging barrel. A Criziana is aged for at least two years, one in oak. Rioja Reserva is aged at least three years, with at least one in oak. A Rioja Gran Reserva must be aged at least five years, with two years in oak.

2019 Artadi Rioja Vinas de Gain

JS  94   
WA  92   
VN  92   
8 available
Bid *

2019 Artadi Rioja Vinas de Gain

JS  94   
WA  92   
VN  92   
7 available
Bid *

2006 Bodegas L. Medrano-Irazu Rioja

Light capsule condition issue; elevated cork

1964 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Vina Monty Reserva

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light signs of past seepage; 3 cm ullage; light label condition issue

2 available
Bid *

1964 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Vina Monty Reserva

Capsule condition issue; light signs of past seepage; 5 cm ullage; light label condition issue

1964 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Vina Monty Reserva

Capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light signs of past seepage; 4.5 cm ullage; light label condition issue

1964 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Vina Monty Reserva

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light signs of past seepage; 3.5 cm ullage; light label condition issue

1964 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Vina Monty Reserva

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light signs of past seepage; 3 cm ullage; label condition issue

1964 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Vina Monty Reserva

Light capsule condition issue; 3 cm ullage; light label condition issue

1964 Bodegas Montecillo Rioja Vina Monty Reserva

Light capsule condition issue; lightly depressed cork; light signs of past seepage; 4 cm ullage; light label condition issue

1961 Bodegas Riojanas Cenicero Vina Albina Rioja Reserva

Signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

1961 Bodegas Riojanas Cenicero Vina Albina Rioja Reserva

Light capsule condition issue; depressed cork; signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; label condition issue

2001 Faustino I Tinto Gran Reserva

WE  91   
8 available
Bid *

2001 Faustino I Tinto Gran Reserva

Light label condition issue

WE  91   

1970 Lopez de Heredia Rioja Vina Tondonia

Light capsule condition issue; mid shoulder fill; label condition issue

1985 Marques de Murrieta Ygay Rioja Blanco

Light capsule condition issue; signs of past seepage; top shoulder fill; light label condition issue

2 available
Bid *

2001 Valsacro Dioro Seleccion J & D Rioja

Base neck fill

RP  96   
CT  91.9   
WS  91   

2001 Valsacro Dioro Seleccion J & D Rioja

RP  96   
CT  91.9   
WS  91