Classic, undervalued Rioja from one of its finest estates. The 2018 Riserva is the quintessential "now or later" Rioja, as there's a plummy richness and energy on display at the moment, yet there's also a deep structure and more than sufficient tannin to see it through an extended cellaring of 7-10 years. More than any other grower we feature at TFWR, the wines of Ramirez de la Piscina fly under the radar for months at a time, until we open a bottle and remind ourselves and our clients just how great they are.
From the importer, Jorge Ordonez: "The Ramirez de la Piscina family of San Vicente have been farming grapes in this historic village since the 13th century. Their family name is shared with the hermitage of Santa María de la Piscina, a 12th century Romanesque hermitage, a historic landmark site that is engraved with the Ramirez family crest, speaking to the family's long history in Rioja. Today, they produce small quantities of extremely classical Rioja wines from estate and long-term contracted vineyards in San Vicente and Abalos, two of the most important villages in the Sonsierra Riojana, a geographic "triangle" of quality between San Vicente, Abalos, and Labastida."