Description
A single vineyard cuvée from the foothills of the Sierra de Toloño in Rioja made by Telmo Rodriguez. Telmo Rodriguez is one of the greatest of Spanish winemakers. He owns large hectares of vines, covering Gredos, Valdeorras, Ribera del Duero and Rioja, among others. The property is located in the foothills of the Sierra Tolono. YJAR is based on an old, high altitude vineyard of 3.8 hectares located in Labastida, Rioja (Remelluri property). Telmo Rodríguez, "it is the great wine, the jewel that we have extracted from this exceptional vineyard with unique characteristics.”
JAMES SUCKLING 100 Points
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.
THE WINE ADVOCATE Rating 96+
Drink 2022 - 2032
Reviewed by Luis Gutiérrez, Issue Date 14th Jul 2022, Source July 2022 Week 2, The Wine Advocate
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.
DECANTER 97 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 05 Jul 2022)
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2040
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.
JANCIS ROBINSON 17 points
Drink 2024 - 2038
Harvested 23–30 October. A blend of Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, Gran Negro and Rojal.
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)
