Yjar 2020
Yjar 2020 is a dry, full-bodied red from Tempranillo, Grenache (Rioja, Spain), in the rich, smooth reds style. Tannins are moderate and acidity moderate; oak influence is some. Good with lamb, roast pork, roast vegetables, sausages. Drink now or within 30 years (to about 2050). Decant for about 1 hour. Critic score 98/100 (merchant-reported).
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pesquera Crianza 1995 Tinto Pesquera · Ribera del Duero | £91.00 | |||
| Navajas Rioja Crianza 6 Pack Navajas · Rioja | £69.99 | |||
| Rioja Vega Crianza, Rioja - Magnum (Wooden Box) 2021 Rioja Vega · Rioja | £35.00 | |||
| Tobelos Crianza, Rioja 2020 Tobelos Bodegas y Viñedos · Rioja | £18.90 |
Drink it now or cellar for up to 30 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. After a long experience as a consulting winemaker, Telmo Rodríguez founded his winery in 1994 with Pablo Eguzkiza. Production focuses on native grape varieties, showcasing the exceptional variety of the specific terroirs of some historic Spanish wine regions. Produced in limited quantities, Yjar is a blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha, and several other varietals co-planted in the vineyard located at the foot of the Sierra de Tolono in Labastida. Here, the bush-trained old vines enjoy an altitude of between 600 and 800 meters and marly soils. After harvest, fermentation occurs spontaneously in open oak vats, and the finished wine ages in a mix of foudre and barrels for approximately 30 months. The result is an elegant and expressive wine with an intense, dark ruby color and a broad, complex aromatic profile with notes of black fruits, wild berries, and violets, followed by hints of leather, earth, pepper, and undergrowth. On the palate, it is lively, taut, and velvety. It has good concentration and a delicate minerality. It is fresh and fruity, with fine tannins and a long, refined finish that evokes notes of fruit and graphite. It pairs perfectly with roast lamb and roast suckling pig.