2021 Bodegas y Vinedos Ilurce Rio Madre Graciano [JS90][V90]

"The 2021 Graciano Rio Madre, sourced from Alfaro in Rioja Oriental, aged for six months in used French oak barrels.  This ripe, black-fruited wine features bay leaf and balsamic notes, complemented by plum marmalade.  Dry and juicy, the abundant and taut palate lingers with a lifted flavor, thanks to its heightened acidity.  This is a pleasing and sun-kissed expression of Graciano." 

Winemaker Notes: 

"Rio Madre is the result of the efforts of Jorge Ordóñez and Bodegas Ilurce to produce a 100% Graciano wine from D.O.C. Rioja. Mostly known for its role in adding complexity to the wines of Rioja Alta and Alavesa, Graciano is a varietal that thrives in Rioja Baja due to the hotter climate. Graciano is a late-ripening variety with a particularly long vegetative cycle, so it cannot ripen fully in Rioja Alta and Alavesa. As a result, although most northern Rioja wineries claim their blends include Graciano from their vineyards, most of them source their Graciano from Rioja Baja. Ordóñez discovered the quality of vineyards and Graciano in Rioja Baja and partnered with Bodegas Ilurce to produce a 100% Graciano wine, which are very rare."