Ramón Bilbao Rioja Reserva

A delicious glass with a full, deep flavor!

Juicy blackberries, black plums, and delicious spices. An incredible Rioja Reserva from Ramón Bilbao with a balanced note of wood and vanilla. The ideal dinner partner for a fine piece of grilled meat, game, or a vegetarian paella. This Rioja Reserva comes from the upper part of Rioja, the Rioja Alta, where it is slightly cooler. This lends the wine a delightful freshness and elegance. A very long aging period of forty months, twenty of which are in American oak and another twenty in the bottle, makes this typical Rioja a delight with every sip!

Tasting note Ramón Bilbao Rioja Reserva

Deep, intense red in color, almost black! Subtle fruit aromas combine beautifully with the spicy notes from the oak aging. Vanilla, coconut, licorice, cinnamon, and nutmeg with juicy blackberries, cherries, and plums. Despite the full, powerful flavor, there is a delicious fresh note with even a hint of menthol. Particularly well-balanced with an elegant finish. A cheese board with aged cheeses would pair very well with this. It is also a great success with a nice piece of grilled red meat, game, or a vegetarian paella with eggplant and artichoke!

Vinification

The vineyards of this Rioja Reserva are located in the higher part of the Rioja; Rioja Alta. There is a unique climate here where the warm wind from Cantabria collides with the cool Mediterranean wind and the soil consists of loam and clay. The Ebro River maintains moisture levels in the vineyards. The grapes benefit from many hours of sunshine during the day and have the opportunity to develop freshness during the cool nights. For this Rioja Reserva is mainly Tempranillo used and supplemented with some Mazuelo and Graciano. The wine ages for 20 months in American oak, as is tradition for Rioja Reserva. After wood aging, the wine continues to mature in the bottle for at least another 20 months in the cellars of Ramón Bilbao. The wine can be stored in its own cellar for well over 10 years after the vintage; after that, it loses too much of its beautiful fruit.

Bodegas Ramón Bilbao

The Ramón Bilbao wine estate is located in Haro, Rioja Alta, the heart of the best DOC Riojas. For generations, the estate has been working here to achieve the highest possible quality of Tempranillo grapes and wines. Modern techniques are used, while respecting old Spanish traditions. The estate received the Winery of the Year awards in 2009 and 2014.

Awards:

De Grote Hamersma on Ramón Bilbao Rioja Reserva 2016 – 9

Decanter about Ramón Bilbao Rioja Reserva 2016 – 90 points

Vivino about Ramón Bilbao Rioja Reserva 2016 – 4.1 stars

International Wine Challenge about Ramón Bilbao Rioja Reserva 2016 – Silver Medal