2014 - Telmo Rodriguez Tabuerniga, Rioja

Tabuérniga is the name of a place in the village of Labastida, not far from Remelluri, where they have 4.5 hectares of vineyards in the shape of an amphitheater from which they select 2.7 hectares that go into the 2014 Tabuérniga. They managed to rent and finally purchase it and have been working to improve the viticulture. They vinified 2012 and 2013, but this 2014 is the first wine they liked enough to release. It's mainly Tempranillo with some Graciano, Mazuelo (Cariñena) and other varieties (up to ten different ones), from organically farmed terraces at 540 to 630 meters in altitude on deep limestone and clay soils. It fermented in open-top, 3,000- and 4,000-kilogram oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in 1,500-liter oak foudres for 14 months. This is closer in style to Las Beatas than the La Estrada or El Velado. Tabuérniga is elegant and all about finesse, with incredible balance. The palate, while also having that elegance, has the juiciness and weight of the old-time Riojas. The nose does not stop changing and developing more nuances, flowers and aromatic herbs, even if it's not as expressive as Las Beatas. This is really a superb debut. I think this is going to be a very important wine in the Telmo Rodríguez portfolio, maybe even challenging Las Beatas! 1,971 bottles were filled in May 2016.