Rioja La Loma

Miguel Merino
Spain
Rioja
2021

Overall Red Wine(s) of the Year- 2024 Tim Atkin 

90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, sourced from La Loma, a vineyard in the southwest of Briones at 534 meters above sea level. The vines are planted in the traditional "vaso" (bush) style on an east-facing slope in calcareous soil. Grapes are hand-harvested, cold-soaked for three days, and then fermented in stainless steel. Aged14 months in French oak barrels. 2,282 bottles produced. 

100 points
""The spirit of my father" how Miguel Merino describes this wine, made in the year in which the founder of this small Briones bodega passed away. I’m sure Miguel Senior would have been proud of this wine and the deservedly high score it has achieved. Showcasing a remarkable vineyard planted in 1946, this is a graceful pairing of Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, showing subtle reduction, understated grip and tannins, blood orange and bramble flavours, a breath of oak spices and incredible elegance and precision. Perfection. 2025-32"
Tim Atkin ,
Tim Atkin
Special Rioja Report 2024
94 points
"The flagship red 2021 La Loma is floral, clean and elegant. It comes from a single vineyard that has always been special for them. It's 90% Tempranillo with 10% Garnacha from vines planted in 1946 that they've been producing separately since 2015, but they were not able to purchase it until 2021 (congrats!). The nose is nice and elegant, and the palate is serious, austere and mineral, with a strong chalky and stony feel. 2,282 bottles were filled in April 2023 after 14 months in used 500-liter French and Austrian barrels."
Luis Gutiérrez,
Wine Advocate
Feb 29, 2024

SKU/Code: 
DB4842-21
Product Line: 
Wine
Red
Varietal: 
Tempranillo