Wenlock Cellars
Ontañón Rioja Reserva, DOCa Rioja 2019
Ontañón Rioja Reserva, DOCa Rioja 2019
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Supple, full-flavoured Rioja Reserva
Production
Reservas are only produced in years of exceptional quality - and from the most select vineyards. The Tempranillo is sourced from La Pasada, and the Graciano from La Montesa vineyard. After a long maceration the wine spends 12 months in 60% American and 40% French oak (both used and new), followed by 24 months in bottle.
Tasting notes
Aromas of bramble fruit with spice and lightly floral notes. On the palate plum and ripe blackberry fruit flavours combine with ample acidity, minerality and earthy notes. Tannins are smooth and supple as you would expect from an eight year old wine, and it is drinking beautifully
Food match
Drink this Reserva with lamb, roast pork or mushroom risotto.
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ABV
14%
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Bottle Size
75cl
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Region/Country
Rioja, Spain
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Grape
Tempranillo 95%, Graciano 5%
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Features
Sustainable
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Closure
Cork
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Winemaker
Rubén Pérez Cuevas
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Appellation
DOC Rioja
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Allergen info
Contains sulphites and no other allergens
Meet the Producer
Bodegas Ontañón is a 5th generation family-owned and run winery in Rioja Baja (now Rioja Oriental). Here Raquel, Rubén and Maria Pérez Cuevas continue their father Gabriel's work to develop Bodegas Ontañón into one of the most highly-regarded wineries in Rioja. Ontañón has vast swathes of vineyard in this part of Rioja. Whilst wine production in the region is typically very dependent on contracts with grape growers, the Pérez Cuevas family has seen fit to invest heavily in the purchase of its own land and vines. Its 250ha is a testament to the importance it places on controlling grape quality.
The family's vineyards sit high in the Sierra Yerga mountains in the prestigious region surrounding Quel, defying misconceptions that Rioja Baja is one of the lesser sub-regions within Rioja. Many of their vineyards are actually planted at altitudes on a par with, or above, those in Rioja Alta and Alavesa; (La Pasada is their highest vineyard at 800m above sea level, planted in 1979 it is used for Reserva and Gran Reserva wines). The hot and dry Mediterranean climate allows for consistent ripening of the grapes with little disease and this has enabled them to pursue organic production across 57 hectares of vines.
A Note on Sustainability
Currently run by the fourth generation of the Pérez Cuevas family to carry on the tradition of grape growing in the southern part of Rioja, they take great pride in maintaining their vineyards in the most sustainable manner possible as it is their land that supports their family’s craft. As well as farming organically and producing a range of organic wines, Bodegas Ontañón are certified under the Sustainable Wineries for Climate Protection (SWfCP) programme.
A range of sustainable processes are employed in the vineyard and in the winery including; ontrolled irrigation systems to reduce water usage and evaporation; planting vineyards in cooler, well-ventilated areas in order to reduce irrigation requirements and phytosanitary treatments; using plant/grass cover in vineyards to improve soil texture, to reduce tractor working hours and to lower carbon dioxide emissions; using environmentally friendly phytosanitary products that break down quickly and harmlessly; planting several hectares of pine forest near the vineyards in Ausejo and tidying and maintaining the oak forest near the vineyards in Quel. They are a carbon neutral operation, meaning the facilities no longer emit CO2 to the atmosphere.The watering systems in the vineyards are supplied through solar power. It encourages its worker to car pool from its winery to its vineyards to reduce emissions.
