Name: Miguel Merino Rioja Vitola Reserva 2021 750ml
Brand: Miguel Merino
SKU: 1035077
Price: 38.4 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 92.5 (2 reviews)

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Winery

Miguel Merino

Shop all from Miguel Merino

Country

Spain

Ever since the Phoenicians and Romans brought their knowledge of vine cultivation to Spanish soils, the country's culture has grown alongside wine production, with wine being a vital part of Spanish identity and Spanish traditions. Each region of Spain has a wine quite distinct from the others, and it is produced by smallholders and families as much as it is by large companies and established wineries. From the relatively mild and lush regions of La Rioja to the arid plateaus that surround Madrid, grapes are grown in abundance for the now booming Spanish wine industry, and new laws and regulations have recently been put in place to keep the country's standards high. By combining traditional practices with modern technology, Spanish wineries are continuing to produce distinctive wines of great character, flavor and aroma, with the focus shifting in recent decades to quality over quantity.

Region

La Rioja

La Rioja is by far the most famous wine region of Spain, and remains one of the world's great wine producing regions, consistently offering deep, complex red wines of character and distinction, partly due to the fact that La Rioja benefits from excellent soils, rich in minerals and nutrients, and plenty of sunshine. The climatic conditions allow the fine grape varietals to reach full ripeness and express plenty of the best features of their terroir, making La Rioja wines some of the most interesting to have ever come out of Europe. The Cantabrian mountains to the north provide the perfect shelter from the colder, wetter influences of the Atlantic oceans, and in the beloved vineyards of La Rioja, wineries have been cultivating exceedingly flavorful Tempranillo grapes for generations for the inclusion in their fine single variety and blended wines.

Appellation

Rioja

Rioja, a renowned wine appellation in Spain, stands as an emblem of the country's winemaking heritage and innovation. What makes Rioja unique is its commitment to blending traditional and modern winemaking methods. Primarily crafted from Tempranillo, with Garnacha, Graciano, and Mazuelo as supporting players, Rioja wines showcase a remarkable balance of fruit, oak, and complex aging. Rioja's classification system, featuring Crianza, Reserva, and Gran Reserva, delineates the aging periods, highlighting the region's dedication to quality. The use of American oak barrels imparts distinctive vanilla and coconut notes, contributing to Rioja's recognizable profile. The diverse terroir, from the high-altitude vineyards of Rioja Alta to the warmer Rioja Baja, adds depth and complexity to the wines. Exploring Rioja allows enthusiasts to savor the rich tapestry of Spanish winemaking, where historic bodegas coexist with modern practices, resulting in wines that seamlessly marry tradition and innovation, offering a glimpse into the soul of Spanish viticulture.

WA 93pts

Wine Advocate

The 2021 Vitola Reserva is the more modern reserva bottling in the cool and balanced 2021 vintage. It is superb, elegant, powerful and balanced, nuanced and complex. This has the cooler Tempranillo from Briones, from the Arreluz lieu-dit, complemented with 5% Graciano that managed to ripen thoroughly and keep good balance and freshness. It finishes with a chalky mouthfeel. It's aging at a slow pace, showcasing the longevity of the year. It matured in French oak barrels, 25% of them new, for 22 months, but the oak is surprisingly integrated. 9,130 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2023.

VM 92pts

Vinous Media

The 2021 Reserva Vitola (Tempranillo with 4% Graciano) spent two years in French oak. On the nose, expressive red fruit shaded by darker tones, field herbs, violets and damp earth. The palate is agile and finely textured, with direct fruit and a slender, fresh feel. A thoughtful interpretation of the style.

Winery Notes

Vitola Reserva comes from vines planted in the 1970s, in slopes facing northwest. Soils are very poor, far from the Ebro river, and very rocky. The wine is made of 96% Tempranillo with 4% Graciano (for acidity.) It ages for two years in French oak (30% new), and the rest in bottle, before release.

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Miguel Merino Rioja Vitola Reserva 2021 750ml

Winery

Miguel Merino

Country

Spain

Region

La Rioja

Appellation

Rioja

Wine Advocate

Vinous Media

Winery Notes

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