Jose Gil Rioja San Vicente la Sonsierra

80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacha, 5% Viura. Selcted from the La Canoca, el Bardallo, San Martin and La Concova vineyards, which vary in height from 450 to 650 metres, but are all around 80 to 130 years old and sit on a mixture of sandy soils and alluvial flushes, to create a 'house blend'. 50% wholebunch, 50% destemmed fermented and aged in 50/50 concrete and old French oak . The result is both Rioja and Burgundy in style, with the palate of colours being Rioja, the structure being almost Burgundian, with silky tannins and true finessed complexity.

Josés' family farm vines around the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra and in the hills behind, as far north and as high as you can go in to the Alavesa. They own parcels that are frequently only 0.2 to 0.4 hectares of old vines which have become difficult to manage for Olmaza, the families Bodegas, also located in the village. Jose has taken these vines in hand to produce single terroir wines in a Burgundian style (he spent 2 years in Burgundy and 1 year in the Mosel) that is redefining the attitude to terroir in Rioja today.

Jose has already been spotlighted as one of the most exciting new growers in Rioja by both Tim Atkin MW and Luis Gutiérrez, even after just two vintages under his belt.