What’s best in Rioja: a blend of Tempranillo with Garnacha and possibly a little Graciano or Mazuelo or single varietal wines made from Tempranillo or Garnacha or Graciano, or even Maturana Tinta? That’s what this small tasting was designed to investigate but I’m very happy to say that it isn’t that simple. If there were an easy formula, we would be deprived of so many nuanced and characterful wines from this big and successful region where there is already a sea of potentially dull, soft red wine – or so it appears from what is widely available on the UK...
Variety in Rioja
Wednesday 31 December 2008
Become a member to continue reading
Celebrating 25 years of the world’s most trusted wine community
In honour of our anniversary, enjoy 25% off all annual and gift memberships for a limited time.
Use code HOLIDAY25 to join our community of wine experts and enthusiasts. Valid through 1 January.
Member
$135
/year
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
- Access 286,771 wine reviews & 15,834 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
Ideal for collectors
- Access 286,771 wine reviews & 15,834 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
- Access 286,771 wine reviews & 15,834 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
- Access 286,771 wine reviews & 15,834 articles
- Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
- Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
- Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
More Tasting articles
Tasting articles
The second tranche of wines reviewed on Jancis’s recent West Coast road trip. Above, the new Overshine Collective, a group...
Tasting articles
Classic, affordable bordeaux made for pleasure and selected for an independent, reliable and regularly updated classification. For all that we’ve...
Tasting articles
This month’s Singapore selection features a majority from Western Australia, including a handsome mini-vertical of Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon.
As...
Tasting articles
A Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux tasting in London gave us a first look at these finished wines. How...
More from JancisRobinson.com
Wines of the week
A rosé to warm your winter, from £17.30, $19.99. Above, Albert Canela and Mariona Vendrell of Succés Vinícola.
The wind...
Inside information
Brunello farmers never knew what nature would throw at them next in 2025. Yet somehow they managed, even claiming that...
Book reviews
Six sleek guides for wine lovers wanting on-the-ground advice on what and where to drink and eat.
The Smart Traveller’s...
Nick on restaurants
What is it about Saturday lunch? A tale of one enjoyed at Mayfair’s latest opening. Very fancy!
It has been...
Inside information
The final episode of a seven-part podcast series giving the definitive story of Jancis’s life and career so far. For...
Free for all
Some wine really does get better with age, and not all of it is expensive. A slightly shorter version of...
Wine news in 5
Plus Mendoza’s recent embrace of copper mining and the end of the Sud de France moniker on wine labels. Above...
Wines of the week
Snap up this delicate tawny for the festive season, as it will carry you from canapés through cantucci. From $19.99...