Jose Gil Rioja 'Labastida' 2021

'one of the leading young producers in Rioja and the whole of Spain' Luis Guttierez, The Wine Advocate.

Rioja is still stuck in the past with it's Riserva classifications and ignoring the complex terroir differences throughout the region. They simplify it to three large sub-regions that do not exemplify the village identities that are so apparent. There are many producers that have fought against this archaic model, following the Burgundian model in their bottlings. In this camp, Jose Gil is a new producer to us and one with a huge future.

His 2021 Rioja Vinedas de Labastida is 90% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and is raised in equal measures concrete and large old French oak. These vines are from poor soils over a bedrock of limestone which gives the wine its floral intensity and linear structure. A beguiling blue note nose of blueberry, anise, cherry cola and a smidgen of herbs. Structurally this is so far removed from the Rioja many know, with no overtly sweet fruit, heavily oaked roundness. It's pure and precise, with chalky tannin running the length of the mouth. A seriously elegant wine and great representation of it's place. Highly recommended. Jeremy Muller, FWC.