1999 Bodegas Remelluri REMELLURI Gran Reserva Rioja
Name:
Bodegas Remelluri REMELLURI Gran Reserva Rioja - 1999
Where it's from:
>Spain
>Rioja
Price per case:
£401.43
Bottle size:
75 cl
Bottles per case:
12
Style:
Powerful Reds
Grapes:
Tempranillo
Description:
Historical records show that the La Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri was contributing wine to the town council of nearby Labastida in the 15 th century - one of the earliest references to a bodega in Spain. Today, the 100ha estate situated in the Western corner of the Rioja Alavesa between the Tolono mountain range and the River Ebro, is one of Rioja's most prestigious and most sought after.
Entirely estate based, and therefore unusual for Rioja, the vineyards are spread over a multitude of small terraced plots. The estate has poor soils which when coupled with the raised altitude, result in restricted yields and grapes with ample tannins and balancing acidity to ensure great ageing potential for the wines. This great ageing potential is born through upon tasting.
Remelluri wines are exciting in that they exactly reflect the soils from which they are grown. There is a minerality and tightness coupled with firm tannins and lifted acidity that are indicative of grapes grown on meagre, high altitude sites. The winemaking is classic through the extensive use of French oak, though now commonplace in Rioja, is by no means classic for a region whose hallmark used to be the unmistakable whiff of coconutty American wood.
Remelluri wines perhaps reflect the timeless qualities that are to be found on the estate. There is a sense here that whislt everything is of the utmost high quality, this is not a producer that will follow fashion but will always strive for the ultimate in quality.
Remelluri are rightly renowned as one of the finest producers in the Rioja region and it's easy to see why. This wine is a blend of 95% Tempranillo, 5% Garnacha and 5% Graciano grapes and come from high altitude, cool climate vineyards that yield low quantities of fruit that are complex and highly concentrated.
This mature example of top quality Rioja has acres of ripe strawberry fruit overlaid with seriously savoury, spice notes and elements of tobacco and cedar wood. Complex, structured and very very long.
