Real Agrado Rioja Tinto 2018

80% Garnacha and 20% Tempranillo from La Lobera and Canterabuey, planted in 1992 and 1975

respectively, fermented separately in stainless steel. The Garnacha is destemmed and the

Tempranillo is fermented using carbonic maceration. Unoaked. TA 5.6. It’s a wine with a real southto-

north Riojan dialectic, Garnacha carrying the torch and handing it to Tempranillo to finish. It

transitions from herbal Garnacha reaching skyward, and settles to some fleshy Tempranillo depth.

Interplay and balance key this clever simple wine. Against ‘normal’ perceptions of the region, it’s

Rioja upside down, south to north.

Vibrant purple-red, with light, fruity and spicy Garnacha in a floral-heather-herb nose. It’s fresh, with delicate raspberry and red cherry transitioning to bramble, boysenberry, violet and a touch of cola. It’s a mile from raspberry jube, but there is a really neat line of dusty raspberry powder. Just below medium weight, restrained and savoury, it has good feel, running long and low in the mouth. It’s open and

easy but with the structure necessary for presence and persistence.

Country: Spain
Region: Rioja