Yjar Rioja 2017

This was a standout wine from my September Releases report, and I was thrilled to confirm its brilliance at a tasting I did with Tim Atkin in London a few weeks ago, looking at the shared history of Rioja and Bordeaux. It’s powerful, setting an intention right from the first moment, layered and perfumed with an abundance of liqourice, blueberry, raspberry and redcurrant fruits, offset by gentler rosebud and tobacco. Reticent and generous, with years ahead of it, and although it will benefit from another few years in bottle, you will already understand the bones of this wine if you give it a good few hours in a carafe. Winemaker Telmo Rodriguez. First vintage, and I already can’t wait to see what happens next.