Marques de Tomares Rioja Gran Reserva 2016

Marqués de Tomares is the project of Don Roman Montana, whose family has been making wine in Rioja Alta for over 100 years. The Marques de Tomares is one of the great historic estates of Rioja, dating back to the time in the late 1800s when phylloxera in Bordeaux prompted new vine plantings in nearby Rioja. This is also when other legends like Lopez and La Rioja Alta got started. Also like Lopez, Marques de Tomares' founding family is still in charge; the grandkids and great-grandkids make the Tomares wines, including from vines planted by Grandpa over 100 years ago!

The wines are beautiful and traditional. So why has everybody heard of Lopez and La Rioja Alta but not Tomares? Because for years the winery sold only to elite society clubs (socios) and Spain’s top restaurants. They did not make wine available to retailers or to the general public. This is not unheard of in Spain, where Vega Sicilia also sold their wines exclusively through private channels into the late 20th century.

Elegant aromas of spice, graphite, red cherry, cranberry sauce, hints of char and smoke but it’s so well integrated, the wine doesn’t seem oak driven at all. Instead, it’s woven with depth of spice and balanced fruit, and roasted herbs. Fresh on the palate, seamless tannin but not "polished." Nothing is over-the-top or over-done, it’s classic, old-school style – this is going to age forever.

A Wine Guy Selection