Villota Rioja Alavesa Tinta 2019

Critical Acclaim: 93 pts Vinous; 92 pts Wilfred Wong; 92 pts James Suckling; 91 pts Jeb Dunnuck.  

Winemaker's Tasting Notes: Live, fresh, juicy. Attractive on all occasions. It reflects well the vineyard's personality, with its remarkable proportion of Graciano variety, which provides a vibrant acidity.

"Deep, lurid ruby. Mineral- and smoke-accented blackberry, cherry and tobacco scents pick up floral and vanilla accents with air. Sappy, expansive black and blue fruit and violet pastille flavors open up steadily, energized by a spicy topnote. Concentrated yet lively in style, with a smoky mineral quality that adds cut to the impressively long, floral- and spice-driven finish."- Vinous. 

"This wine shines with aromas and flavors of black fruit, licorice, and savory spices. Enjoy it with grilled short ribs."- Wilfred Wong. 

"Dusty sweet spices to the mixture of berry fruit and chocolate. Rich and flavorful on the palate but fresh and tight with plenty of juicy and ripe cherries and blueberries that last into the sappy, long finish. Fine-grained tannins throughout. Drink or hold."- James Suckling.  

"The 2019 Villota checks in as 84% Tempranillo, 11% Graciano, and 5% Garnacha. It's slightly more closed and reticent but has similar red, black, and blue fruits as well as floral, spicy, mineral-laced aromas and flavors. Concentrated and medium to full-bodied, with good acidity and ripe tannins, going to benefit from a year or three of bottle age and keep for a decade. Best After 2023."- Jeb Dunnuck. 

Varietal: 84% Tempranillo, 11% Graciano and 5% Garnacha.