Yjar 2018 (750ML)

100 JS / 98 JA / 97 DE / 96+ WA / 96 WI / 17 JR

#1 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of Spain 2022
#9 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of 2022

Such a deep yet complex and sophisticated nose, showing discretion, perfume and finesse. A hint of violet extract to the black cherries, crushed blueberries and cocoa powder aromas, together with Spanish cigars that slowly evolve to truffle, black pepper, incense and freshly chopped herbs. Juicy, yet really composed and dry, with medium to full body and abundant, immaculately fine-grained tannins that unwind evenly on the palate. A style that is restrainedly plush and refined, showing superb precision, cohesion and length, when you give it enough time in your glass. If Las Beatas is the fine Burgundy, then this would be Telmo Rodriguez’s Rioja answer to world-class Bordeaux. Decant it to let the complexity come through. Drink through the next 20 plus years. - James Suckling

Since this wine launched its inaugural vintage last September, I have visited the vineyard, which is tucked in a 3.8ha limestone-dominant corner of the bigger Remelluri estate. You feel the fragrant herbs of the surrounding hills in the wine, breathing proof of terroir into the glass. It means I have tasted this vintage both from barrel at the estate, and now in bottle, and it confirms that this is an extremely special wine. The 2018 is now four years since harvest and still has the raspberry violet blush of a young wine. The fragrance hits you as soon as you wave your nose over the glass, with freshly cut rosemary, sage and tarragon, along with violets, roses, heather, lemongrass and mandarin peel - just so much complexity and nuance. Takes off through the palate, rising through the finish to give a mouthwatering sign off. This was the wine I was most looking forward to trying again for the September Releases, and it does not disappoint. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The second vintage by oenologist-winemaker Telmo Rodriguez, the 3.8-hectare, single-vineyard cuvée from the limestone foothills of the Sierra de Toloño in Rioja Alavesa made from a massal selection of Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, Granegro and Rojal. Heady and seductive nose, full and ripe, darkly fruited with a sweet vanilla caramel tone. Full, round and mouthfilling, this is gorgeous. It's generous so you get lots of flavour in the mouth, and the tannins are present, just fleshy and plump yet this retains a sense of style and grace. It's bold and powerful no doubt with clear concentration but stops short of being too much. Sweet, salty, dark fruited with chew and grip, all presented with such detail. You can feel a sense of sculpting, it has muscles and sinew, pulsing energy and a vitality that is thrilling and nicely counters the ripe fruit aspects. I like the clarity to the finish, it really leaves you wanting more. Characterful and contemplative.- Georgina Hindle, Decanter

The second vintage of the top-of-the-range 2018 Yjar was produced with Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and other grapes from selected plots from Remelluri. It has 14.6% alcohol and a pH of 3.45. This has a more modern profile than the other wines from Remelluri, with more sophisticated tannins, a wine that is different, ripe and powerful, with the depth of the Remelluri wines. It's spicy and peppery, long and chewy with a long finish marked by the limestone from the soils. 5,700 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2021. - Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate

The 2018 YJAR is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Granegro, and Rojal from a single vineyard of 3.5 ha in Rioja, and made by Telmo Rodriguez. Medium garnet-purple colored, it zips out of the glass with vibrant notions of cracked black pepper, redcurrants, and wild blueberries, followed by hints of Morello cherries, garrigue, dried sage, and red roses. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers intense, beautifully pure, red, black and blue fruit layers, framed by ripe, fine-grained tannins and fantastic tension, leading to a long and perfumed finish on this gorgeous wine. 5,988 bottles were made. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Sweet and plump on both the nose and palate, this is a full and rich Rioja with leanings towards the modern, less oak-driven style. Ripe, with opulent fruit but good purity and balancing acids. There is real density of structure. The alcohol is a little warming and adds some jagged edges, but the chalky tannins and intensity of fruit are impressive. (TP) - Jancis Robinson