Villota Estate Rioja Tinto 2021
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Jeb
Dunnuck - Vinous
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James
Suckling -
Wine
Spectator
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Winemaker Notes
Viñas del Lentisco – Villota is owned, operated, and founded by Carmen Pérez-Garrigues and her father Ricardo Pérez- Villota, the fourth and third generations of the Pérez-Villota family, a line of growers that have been rooted to the San Rafael estate in Laserna, Laguardia on a meander of the Ebro River since 1930. In 1973, the Villota family cofounded Viñedos del Contino, Rioja's first single estate winery with CVNE. The partnernship lasted until 2013, when the Villota family broke off, taking the historic family estate with them, and founded their own winery under the Villota brand on this historic plot of land.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship of the estate, the 2021 Tinto is based on 85% Tempranillo, 13% Graciano, and 2% Garnacha. It has a gorgeous nose of cassis and darker berries interwoven with subtle spice, graphite, and leather. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, round, concentrated wine with beautiful tannins, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, and a great finish. I'd buy it. It should have two decades or more of overall longevity.
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Vinous
Intense and nuanced, the 2021 Tinto is 85% Tempranillo, 13% Graciano and 2% Garnacha, sourced from vineyards nestled along the bank of the Ebro River in Laserna, Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa. Aged for 14 months in oak barrels, this purple wine reveals enticing notes of elderberry, sour cherry and blackberry, complemented by subtle balsamic hints against a well-integrated oak backdrop. On the palate, it is dry and juicy with fine-grained tannins, offering both energy and a weightless structural flow. This wine perfectly embodies the character of the river site, particularly evident in its structure—suitable for both modern and classical palates alike.
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James Suckling
Spiced dark cherries, dark earth, blue plums and a touch of peppercorns. Very fine-grained on the palate, with a full load of fresh, powdery tannins. Medium- to full-bodied with a tight grip of fruit and tannins. Excellent length. Drink or hold.
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Wine Spectator
An elegant red, with purity to the flavors of mulberry, oolong tea leaf, tar and vanilla, plus a bright hint of pomegranate puree. Defined by fine-grained tannins and lively acidity, this is focused and well-knit through the spiced finish. Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2031.
Viñas del Lentisco – Villota is a project owned, operated, and founded by Carmen Pérez-Garrigues and her father Ricardo Pérez-Villota, the fourth and third generations respectively of the Pérez-Villota family, a line of growers and vigneron that have been rooted to the San Rafael estate in Laserna, Laguardia, Rioja Alavesa on a meander of the Ebro Rivera since 1930. While their current bodega was founded in 2013, the Villota-Pérez family are one of the most important families in the 20th century history of Rioja.
In 1930, Ricardo Pérez-Pérez, native of Rioja, settled on the San Rafael estate in Laserna. At the time, the 160 Ha. estate was planted to vitis vinifera but was in considerable disrepair. It was Ricardo’s son, Ricardo Pérez-Calvet, an agricultural engineer by trade, who began recovery and resuscitation of the vineyard, and began producing wine for his own personal consumption. The family soon began selling grapes to local producers and quickly became one of the most important qualitative suppliers for Viña Real, CVNE’s Rioja Alavesa property.
In 1973, the Villota family cofounded Viñedos del Contino, Rioja's first single estate winery with José Ángel Madrazo and CVNE. The partnership remained for 40 years, until in 2013, the Pérez-Villota family left the partnership. The family’s inspiration is to continue their trajectory as vigneron and to continue and improve the tradition of vinification of honest and transparent wines that communicate the history of one of Rioja’s most historic and important vineyard estates.
Hailed as the star red variety in Spain’s most celebrated wine region, Tempranillo from Rioja, or simply labeled, “Rioja,” produces elegant wines with complex notes of red and black fruit, crushed rock, leather, toast and tobacco, whose best examples are fully capable of decades of improvement in the cellar.
Rioja wines are typically a blend of fruit from its three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, although specific sub-region (zonas), village (municipios) and vineyard (viñedo singular) wines can now be labeled. Rioja Alta and Alavesa, at the highest elevations, are considered to be the source of the brightest, most elegant fruit, while grapes from the warmer and drier, Rioja Oriental, produce wines with deep color, great body and richness.