Ripa Rioja Rosado

 "Ripa. It has been dubbed the new Tondonio rosé, but half the price. [For those not in the know, the rosé from Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonio has become a cult wine of late, and now fetches very high prices: some retailers make you buy six of the excellent but less culty red reserve in order to snag a single bottle of the rosé.] There’s a connection here: the man behind Ripa is José Luis Ripa Sáenz de Navarrete, who is married to Maria Jose Lopez de Heredia. He makes just one wine, this aged rosé from a hectare of vines in the Najerilla Valley, in Rioja Alta. It’s 85% Garnacha and 15% Tempranillo. 24 h maceration in stainless steel followed by 18 months ageing in 500 litre barrels.

Ripa Vino Rosado Cosecha 2016 Rioja, Spain
13% alcohol. Made by José Luis Ripa Sáenz de Navarrete. 18 months in 500 litre barrels. First vintage, and this is the only wine he makes. Orange/pink in colour. This is complex, layered and finely spiced with nuts, spice and marmalade, as well as some citrus notes. Very detailed with a wonderful savoury quality, as well as some taut citrus fruit, a touch of pear skin, and also some cherry hints. 94/10" Jamie Goode The Wine Anorak