Rioja Reserva 'Finca Martelo'

Score

92

Score

92

Score

94

Score

95

"Part of the La Rioja Alta group since 1995, Torre de O¤a in Rioja Alavesa has divided its vineyards into subplots, studying and characterising each one and making and ageing wine from each one separately. The grapes for this reserva come from 60-year-old vines and were harvested by hand. The 2016 vintage saw optimal weather conditions during one of the longest harvests in the winery,s history. Sarah Jane Evans MW: Rich, enticing and juicy, with lot of sweet spice, ripe fruit and earthy notes. Savoury and appetising in the mouth. A great wine that,s bound to live for many years. Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW: Silky and juicy, layered with oak, pomegranate, redcurrant conserve and basil. Complex and long. Pierre Mansour: With hints of leather and spice, and ripe, textured tannins, this is a textbook reserva. Medium length."

Score

93

Score

95

Score

93

"Scented and expressive nose with fresh cherries, plums, strawberries, stones, mussels and fine sweet spices. Fresh, juicy and medium-bodied on the palate with chalky tannins and a long, linear finish. 95% tempranillo and 5% mazuelo, garnacha and viura. Very drinkable. Already approachable, but can hold, too."

Score

93

Score

92

"The 2019 Reserva Finca Martelo is a blend of 95% Tempranillo with 5% Mazuelo, Garnacha and a dash of Viura from Rioja Alavesa. It aged for 24 months in American oak (80%) and French oak (20%). Displaying a garnet hue, the aromas include cherry and sour cherry, along with blueberry and licorice notes, complemented by hints of vanilla and caramel. Indulgent, with fine-grained tannins, the delicate palate lingers long, concluding with a flavorful finish. This wine represents a distinctive and tasty Rioja style."

Score

94+

"The 2019 Finca Martelo comes from property planted with a blend of 95% Tempranillo and 5% Mazuelo, Garnacha and Viura at 630 meters in altitude that they only bottle in very good or excellent years. The 2019 was picked starting October 15th, and the destemmed grapes were put through optical sorting, a five-day cold soak and then fermented in stainless steel and went through malolactic in new French and American oak barrels. The élevage was in 80% American and 20% French oak barrels and lasted for two years, during which time it was racked four times. 2019 feels like a very complete harvest for Martelo; the wine is very harmonious and balanced, with power and freshness, intensity and persistence. The palate is surprisingly fresh, medium-bodied and fine-boned, clean and elegant. 80,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in April 2022."

Score

91

"Toast and vanilla accents join flavors of cherry preserves and roasted plum, plus cured tobacco, mineral and spice hints. Chewy, well-integrated tannins work alongside the tang of orange peel acidity to structure this polished red. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Viura. Drink now through 2029. 6,500 cases made, 1,300 cases imported.—A.N."