ABOUT: Remelluri’s vineyards are located inRioja Alavesa and handled by Telmo and Amaia Rodríguez. In 2009 they took over the reigns from their father, who had established the winery in 1967. The Remelluri vineyard has been producing wine since the 14th century and is littered with ancient history. There’s a necropolis from the 10th century in one corner and a chapel from the 11th century in another. There’s also a stone wine press carved into a granite boulder in the middle of the vineyard. I once found an old hubcap buried beneath a shed in my backyard in West Seattle. The vineyard has been farmed organically since its inception (certified 2014) and is busted into 80 plots, all vinifed separately of course, and grown at high elevation and face south. It is said that wines on the hillside have more in common with Barolo than the Rioja down on the plains, meaning acidity and freshness aren’t hard to find. We agree. TASTE: The 2018 San Vincente has medium intense, youthful aromas of strawberries, dried cherries, raspberries, cinnamon, orange marmalade, rose petal, dark chocolate and baking spices. All the aromas lock arms on the palate in this medium-bodied dream boat. The tannins are fine and silky, the acidity is a perfect hum in the background, it’s like a master class in balance. The finish is long and expect another 15-20 years of positive development for this beauty. PAIR: Caramelized onion tart, Manchego torta with romesco, grilled rosemary potatoes, vegetable curry with cinnamon, grilled sweet pepper sandwich, spring vegetable paella, and fettuccine alfredo with asparagus and mushrooms.
