Rioja

Rioja barrels remain the most favorite barrels to age our Barley Wine on. The maturation in these red wine barrels in combination with the tannins ensure that the full taste of the wine comes to the forefront. The characteristic Barley Wine flavors remain, although they are slightly toned down. A slightly dry aftertaste completes it all

11.6% ABV

This wine is made from Tempranillo, Grenache, Mazuelo (Carignan) and Graciano grown on clay-limestone terraces from the Tertiary era, located  on  the slopes of Montes Obarenes and Sierra Cantabria. 

After fermentation with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, the wine is Aged for 26 months, in new French oak barrels made at Muga's own cooperage. The wine is fined with fresh egg whites, bottled and then remains in cellar for at least 18 months for further ageing.

The wine is a deep black cherry colour in the glass. The nose is complex, with aromas of dark fruits and hints of cedar wood, scrub and spice.

The palate is elegant and harmonious with more red fruits than the nose with lovely integration of acid and tannin.

Food pairing This wine will go well with red meats, lamb and all types of game dishes.

Bodega Muga was founded in 1932 and remains in family hands today with 250 hectares in La Rioja Alta and long standing contracts with owners of another 150 hectares of vineyards spread among five main vineyards on clay and limestone soils with a wide variety of microclimates. 

The Muga wines are exciting and interesting Spanish blends of indigenous grapes with Tempranillo in the lead, supported by Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano for the reds. 

If you?re a fan of Spanish wine, try this gorgeous next level reserve out for size. 

This is 100% Tempranillo Bianco cultivated by Mart?n Alonso Etayo and his wife, Gloria, who run this most incredible estate in the Rioja Baja. Expect medium acidity with bold citrus flavours of lemon and mandarin which are softened by stone fruit flavours of melon and peach.

This wine has evolved perfectly showing a deep ruby colour with shades of orange. Its nose is persistent, full bodied and showing a lot of mature fruit, being dominated by the Tempranillo grape. Its taste is round, smooth, fresh, full of body and persistent.

93/100 Wine Spectator
The 2012 Viña Bosconia Reserva is perhaps a little too young (María José López de Heredia likes more polished wines, and for her this wine was too tough), with some tannins and the chalky texture from the limestone soils. This blend of Tempranillo with 15% Garnacho and 5% between Graciano and Mazuelo matured in used American oak barrels for five years.

Beronia Reserva is made from a selection of the best grapes from the oldest Tempranillo vines, plus some Graciano y Mazuelo. After a spell undergoing cold pre-fermentation maceration and controlled fermentation with periodic pumping over to extract the desired colour and aromas, the wine spent 18 months in mixed French and American oak barrels to create the unmistakable 'Beronia Style'. Lastly the wine was left to rest in the bottle a further 18 months before being released to the market.

Atractive and intriguing on the nose it displays nutty aromas ? roasted almonds, walnuts ? followed by notes of plum primarily but also ripe fruit and a pleasant hint of white pepper, which all add complexity and freshness. Full bodied the palate, the wine displays balanced acidity. The flavours are mostly of ripe fruit, whilst the finish is sweet and smooth, bringing to mind cacao and roasted hazelnuts.

The Muriel Family has been making wine since the early twentieth century and this brand forms the flagship offering.

Here we have 100% Tempranillo which to be labelled as a Crianza must age for at least 18 months with a minimum of six months in oak. This wine has actually spent a year in American oak and the flavour profile is testament to this, with beautifully integrated vanilla and coconut notes that combine effortlessly with the dark and red berry flavours. An elegant wine with plush tannins and a fullness of body as is befitting the style.

Drink now and over the next couple of years with poultry, veal and cured meats.

Made from 100% Tempranillo fruit aged for 36 months in American oak and held for five years before release and now with some decent age under its belt - what's not to like. Bold and powerful with spicy fruit and mellow tannins Rioja Reservas really are a law unto themselves and given half a chance the oak just melts into the aged tertiary flavours harmoniously.

Bodegas Roda is completely new to New Zealand this year, 2023, and is also a fabulously modern expression of traditional Spanish grape varieties which express themselves in bold red fruit flavours here with the support structure of firm smooth tannins, spicy complex aromas and depth. The blend is 94% Tempranillo,  4% Garnacha and 2% Graciano, all grown on bush vines between 15 to 30 years of age.
Fermentation and ageing was in large French oak vats for 12 months. Stabilisation was natural with egg white used for fining. 

This is a great wine from relatively youthful vines in Spanish terms. It drinks well now and has fabulous structure to age further.

Incredible Spanish wine with great structure; amazing power and mid palate weight from 92% Tempranillo, 6% Graciano, 2% Garnacha. Bodegas Roda is completely new to New Zealand this year, 2023, and is also a fabulously modern expression of traditional Spanish grape varieties which express themselves in bold red fruit flavours with the support structure of firm smooth tannins, spicy complex aromas and depth. We have three of the wines in store, all brand new to this country and to Regional Wines.

Bodegas Roda produces fabulously modern expressions of traditional Spanish grape varieties which express themselves in bold red fruit flavours with the support structure of firm smooth tannins, spicy complex aromas and depth, in this case that blend is 93% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano and 3% Garnacha.
The grapes are grown on bush vines older than 30 years, mostly in Haro and its surroundings. The yields are low, which produces wines with rich concentration of flavour. The fermentation is in French oak vats equipped with temperature control, followed by a malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels for 14 months. A further ageing of 22 months in bottle enabled the wine to mature before release. 

Dry, full bodied and savoury, this Spanish white will tease your mind with its deliciously fresh tropical fruit flavours and bone dry finish. It's made from the little known white Viura grape, which is indigenous to Spain. Fermentation was in new French oak barrels and it spent four months ageing on lees. 

Fresh, flavoursome and dry as a bone with complex layers of taste to keep white wine lovers interested and engaged with every sip. 

This is a dreamy, spicy and smooth Spanish Tempranillo from Bideona, a winery founded in 2018 in Rioja Alavesa. This is one of our best sellers and is made from impressively old vines, many of which were planted in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s and the result of the viticulture is incredible concentration

The wine was aged in an adventurously modern combination of French and American oak barrels, all older oak, for five months. 

The name Laderas means hills and refers to the sloping vineyards from which this smooth, softly fruited, deep red wine comes. Bodega Badiola owns 300 parcels of land on the slopes of Sierra Cantabria, in the villages of Villabuena de Alava, Leza, Samaniego, Laguardia, Navaridas and Ba?os del Ebro. 

The average vine age of is about 50 years and the vines are trained en vaso, referring to the sturdy bush vines, grown without trellising on limestone soils. All grapes are hand picked and the wine is aged in a combination of French and American oak barrels of second and third use, for five months. 

Now owned by the renowned sherry producer Gonzalez Byass, Bodegas Beronia was created in 1973 by a wine and food club and is now considered a benchmark Rioja house.

A deep picota cherry red colour with a garnet edge, this wine is clean and bright. It is complex on the nose, with aromas of cherry and raspberry standing out, complemented by herbal notes - rosemary and thyme - and hints of cinnamon and tobacco. Very fresh and tantalising on the palate, this wine displays a plethora of flavours, the most prominent of which are the confected notes of vanilla and chocolate.

Honoro Vera is a smooth Spanish red made by the Ateca winery, part of the Juan Gil group. This full bodied red is made from the tasty Tempranillo grape, which is all about ripe red fruit flavours underpinned by spice and earthy notes. Tannins are approachable and soft, flavours have complex savoury notes and a hint of cocoa on the finish. 

What the critics say

“Classy and rather elegant Rioja with ripe plum, blackcurrant, old leather and roasted chestnut flavours supported by a backbone of fine, ripe tannins. Accessible now but with obvious cellaring potential. Drink 2022 to 2027.” 

92/100

Bob Campbell MW