Yjar (BIO-ORGANIC) - Rioja 2020
Telmo Rodriguez: The pioneer reviving Spain's great forgotten terroirs
Yjar - Rioja
The property is located in the foothills of the Sierra de Toloño, in the triangle between Labastida, San Vicente and Peñacerrada, where some of the oldest and most incredible vineyards of Rioja Alavesa are found. In 1420, the Hieronymite monks abandoned the sanctuary of Toloño and the farm “Granja Ntra Sra Remelluri”. From then on, the “Divisa de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles del Toloño” began to manage the estate. The fire of the monastery in 1835 marked the beginning of its decline. In the 60’s, a Basque family buys the abandoned property and gives back the viticultural character.
Over the last 10 years, with the arrival of the new generation, embodied by Telmo Rodriguez, an in-depth work with more resources and extensive knowhow has made it possible to highlight an exceptional vineyard which combines all the character and talent of a real “Grand Cru”. This old, goblet trained high altitude vineyard and co-planted with a massal selection of Tempranillo, Graciano, Garnacha, Granegro and Rojal spreads over 3,8ha (9,39 acres)
The 2020 vintage:
The 2020 vintage was deeply challenging for YJAR. It required intuition, extensive vineyard work and rapid response times to battle intense rain, two hailstorms and hot, dry summer conditions. The vines struggled, but optimal phenolic ripening was still achieved thanks to timely September rains which replenished the water reserves. Our brief, staggered harvest lasted from September 30 to October 7, resulting in a wine with profound aromas and polished tannins characteristic of an excellent ripening year.
Tasting notes:
“The wine clearly reflects the exceptional ripening of the grapes in 2020. An expressive, complex nose is composed of intense aromas of dark fruit, combined with delicate floral, spiced and mountain-herb notes. On the palate, it displays elegant composure with an extremely fine tannic profile and long-lasting finish. YJAR 2020 exhibits the vintage with extraordinary finesse, yielding a deeply layered wine with a polished mouthfeel and significant ageing potential.”