2022 Alegre Valgañón Rioja Tinto

75% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% white grapes from old bush pruned vines. All work is done by hand without herbacides or fertilizers. 35 day maceration/fermentation with wild yeasts and stems. Aged for 16 months in older French and Slovenian oak. 14.7% alcohol. 19,000 bottles made.This is old school, medium bodied, vibrant Rioja.  Dried cranberry, licorice and leather on the nose.  Fairly structured, with medium+ tannin, ripe red and black fruits, dried cocoa powder, cedar and tobacco on the palate.  Long, drying finish. Excellent quality to price ratio.  Husband-wife team of Oscar Alegre and Eva Valgañón are among the leaders in the growing “vigneron” movement in Rioja. Oscar has worked with greats such as Alvaro Palacios and Telmo Rodrigues.

93 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. "The approachable and juicy red 2022 Tinto was produced with 75% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 5% white grapes, as the Garnacha and the white are vital. This year, the wine achieved higher ripeness, at 14.7% alcohol, but it doesn't feel alcoholic or warm and comes through as rounder and juicier but still fresh and in balance, very pleasant and easy to drink. It matured in 225- and 500-liter barrels—they now have more 500-liter barrels than 225-liter—and in 1,000- and 3,000-liter oak foudres. 20,000 bottles produced." -Luis Gutiérrez"

93 points, James Suckling. "Mineral and pretty with racy red berries and plums. Impressive agility and freshness from this hot, dry vintage. Not too extracted, this has medium body and firm, chalky tannins. A blend of tempranillo and garnacha with around 5% white grapes and some whole-cluster fermentation. Very composed and fairly long."