2016 Remelluri La Granja Gran Reserva Rioja

With Remelluri, Telmo Rodriguez is putting the Rioja on the map as a producer of original terroir wines. Long before the Rodriguez family settled on Remelluri, wine was already being made on the estate. As early as the 14th century, the monks here made wine from grapes from the surrounding vineyards. In 1967, the house came into the hands of Jaime Rodriguez, the father of pioneer and idiosyncratic winemaker Telmo Rodriguez. Jaime immediately makes radical changes. For example, he decided to only make wine from grapes from his own vineyards, which was exceptional in the Rioja at the time. We also strive to cultivate the vineyards as naturally as possible, in order to preserve the special character of the vineyards as much as possible. In 2010, the vineyards were officially certified organic under the leadership of Telmo.

In the early 1990s, Telmo joined the company. The story goes that his father wants to keep the production of the red wines for himself, so Telmo comes up with the beautiful white Remelluri Blanco. After several years of making wine in other parts of Spain, Telmo returned to Remelluri in 2010, where he took up winemaking together with his sister Amaya. As a great advocate of terroir wines, he has a clear opinion about the wines of the Rioja. Because winemakers often buy most of the grapes from grape growers, they have lost the connection with the vineyards and the terroir, he believes. In addition, the low prices of the grapes have caused winegrowers to neglect or even grub up the more challenging vineyards, often the older, high-altitude plots. With the wines of Remelluri, Telmo wants to show that the Rioja has many different terroirs that can be beautifully expressed in the wines.

Buying wines from the Rioja? Then Grandcruwijnen is the place to be. We have an unprecedented wide range of Rioja wines in every price category and of all famous houses. If you want to order a Rioja wine, the following applies: ✓ Can be ordered per bottle ✓ 24 hour delivery ✓ Save for a discount

Rioja wines enjoy an excellent reputation. That is entirely justified, because a Rioja wine is usually a good wine. The Spaniards have an ancient wine tradition and the craft and expertise can be tasted in every glass. Rioja wines come from the Rioja region, which is located in the north of Spain. The River Río Oja separates the area into two parts, the North and the South. Rioja wine takes its name from this river.

When there are no other mentions on a bottle, the Rioja wine has spent a few months in an oak barrel. The Rioja Crianza must have matured for at least two years, the Reserva for three years and the Gran Reserva for five years, two of which are cask and three years in the bottle. The main grape varieties of the Rioja wines are the grenache blanc, the viura and the malvasia for white wine. For red and rosé these are the tempranillo, the grenache noir, the graciano and the mazuelo. The soil has a major influence on the taste of wine. This also applies to Rioja wines.

The Rioja soil contains a lot of lime and ferrous clay. The soil also contains some limestone here and there. A white Rioja wine shows elements of white fruit (pear and wine peach), while the red wines have hints of notes with hints of blackberry and cocoa. The rosé is again aimed at a fresh, fruity taste; perfect for a sun-filled afternoon on the terrace. It is best to serve the white Rioja wine and the rosé when they have a temperature of between 8 and 16 ⁰C degrees, while the red Rioja wines come into their own at a temperature of 16 ⁰C.

Low yielding blue grape that gives highly appreciated wines. Young wines from this grape variety are hard and have a lot of tannins, but develop in an extraordinary way during the aging process in wood and bottle. That is why this grape is used in the Gran Reserva wines of Rioja and Navarre. Due to the low yields, the Graciano is not widespread. It is widely used in the vineyard itself along with other grapes. Due to the emphasis that Rioja has placed on top quality since the D.O.C. award, the Graciano is back in the spotlight.

What does wine from the Graciano grape taste like?

The Graciano wines have a ruby red color with a purple reflection and have a complex and intense taste of fine acidity and soft tannins, aromas of plums and dry cherries on the nose, but also notes of mulberry and chocolate.

The Tempranillo grape originally comes from the Rioja region in Spain. With its thick skin, the Tempranillo produces wines with a deep color and little alcohol. It is striking that Tempranillo wines can be stored for a long time without much loss of color. Around 80% of the total production of the Tempranillo grape is grown in Spain!

A Worldwide Spread Grape

Tempranillo is widely planted in regions such as Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Valdepeñas, Navarra, Costers del Segre and along the Mediterranean coast. The grape gets its name from the fact that it ripens early - "temprano" means 'early' in Spanish. In addition to Spain, the grape can also be found in Portugal, where it is known as tinta roriz or aragonez, and even in Argentina, where it goes by the name Tempranilla.

The Unique Taste of Tempranillo

Wines made from the Tempranillo grape generally have a fruity and smooth taste, including red and dark fruits such as cherries, plums and blackberries, along with secondary notes of tobacco, leather, vanilla and spices. The flavor profile can vary depending on factors such as terroir, climate and winemaking techniques. The Tempranillo grape produces wines with lots of color and structure that can mature well in wood. The wines go well with Spanish dishes such as tapas, grilled meat, paella and cured meats. Its moderate acidity and tannins make it an easily adaptable wine to many dishes.

Explore Our Tempranillo Collection

At Grandcruwijnen we have a huge range of wines made from the Tempranillo grape. Discover the variety of flavors and styles from Rioja and Ribera del Duero, where Tempranillo is the main grape. Enjoy the accessibility and richness of Tempranillo wines, both pure and blended, which pair perfectly with different dishes and occasions.