Top-Scoring 2011 Gran Reserva Lands—High-Altitude, Old-Vine Rioja
High-altitude vines, four-year élevage, 95 pts—now less than half the usual price... Thursday May 15th, 2025 View in Browser KL-emailheader.gif High-Altitude, Old-Vine Rioja Stunner 2011 Bodegas
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2011 Bodegas Escudero "Solar de Becquer" Gran Reserva Rioja (Elsewhere $45) ($24.99) "Notably warm and dry, the 2011 vintage in Rioja was low-yielding, leading to wines with fantastic concentration and complexity. 14 years later, the 2011 Escudero Gran Reserva Rioja is still showcasing ripe red plum and wild blackberry aromas but is also offering up well-integrated notes of saddle leather, tobacco and fennel seed, all bound together by toasty vanilla undertones. A classically styled Gran Reserva Rioja, with loads of fruit and velvety tannins to support, this wine over delivers for its modest price. There are not many regions in the world that offer mature, ready-to-drink wines at such reasonable prices – this is definitely one to stock up on while still available!" -Rachael Ryan, K&L Spanish Wine Buyer 
Think of this Gran Reserva as a time capsule from Rioja’s rooftop. Perched 1,500–2,600 feet up the southern slope of Mount Yerga, the Escudero family’s 1940s-planted vines ripen slowly, stacking nuance on intensity. After two years in seasoned American oak and two more in concrete for perfect harmony, the 2011 “Solar de Becquer” has spent the last decade knitting its mountain fruit into layers of leather, spice, and warm earth. Wine Enthusiast just awarded it 95 points—yet we’re selling it for more than 40% off the usual price. Classic, fully evolved Gran Reserva for stews, grills, or an elevated weeknight—this is a stellar case buy at a price we may not see again. 95 points Wine Enthusiast: "Deep garnet to the eye, this wine has aromas of cassis, raspberry and a hint of vanilla. Velvety tannins are wrapped around flavors of blackberry, Mission fig, dark chocolate and black olive paste that are joined by a closing note of aniseed. (MD)" (04/2024) K&L Notes: The Escudero family has been in the business of growing grapes (and olives) and making wine since 1852. They have vineyards located in Rioja and neighboring Navarra. The Escudero project is their line of traditionally styled Rioja sourced entirely from their estate on the Southern slopes of Mount Yerga, one of the highest peaks in the region. Their vineyards are planted between 450-800m. The majority of the fruit comes from the heart of the vineyards that were planted back in 1945. This is a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, and 15% Manzuelo. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks and then aged in used American oak barrels for 2 years. After blending the wine was then aged for an additional two years in concrete tanks to allow for the blend to harmonize before bottling. This delivers just what they intended: classic Gran Reserva Rioja. Here the bottle age has allowed for the heady aromatic mix of leather, earth and spice to fully integrate into the mellowing richness of the red fruits and softening tannins. Full bodied, long and complex, this is a wine to be enjoyed with stews, and grilled meats. |
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