2017 Bodegas Gomez de Segura Finca Raton Reserva Rioja 750 ml

When most wine lovers think of Rioja, they usually think of wine blended from grapes grown across various parts of the region, then aged in large American oak casks for years, until dusty, earthy flavors swell to a crescendo.

Gomez de Segura’s Finca Raton shatters the mold.

Made with techniques that would be familiar to any great winemaker in Napa or Bordeaux, this comes solely from a single vineyard in Laguardia, the beating heart of Rioja’s Alavesa region. 

Alavesa lies right along the famous Ebro River, and its proximity to the Cantabrian Mountains provides shelter from the wind and the influence of the Atlantic ocean, creating a moderate climate perfect for growing Tempranillo—and creating wines of exceptional complexity and concentration.

When you factor in gnarled, goblet-trained vines that were planted over 65 years ago, the raw materials are there for greatness—and Gomez de Segura takes exceptional pains to make sure they achieve that once their grapes are hand-harvested.

After sorting, fermentation is in temperature-controlled stainless steel, with careful cap-management to extract bold dark fruit while keeping tannins opulent and elegant. Once that’s done, they fill brand-new Allier French oak barrels with the wine, where it ages for a year—but not longer. The goal is to soften the tannins and provide the exotic hints of vanilla and raw chocolate that the barrels bring, but keep the fruit luscious and ripe. Finally, they hold the wine back for a full two years in bottle before releasing it.

All those steps show off the commitment to excellence that have made the estate a name to know in Laguardia—and make this a bullseye for Napa or Bordeaux lovers who also enjoy Spanish bottles.