Winemaker Notes
Rio Mazos is a unique expression of 100% Graciano - a variety that is typically used to improve the blends of high end wines from Rioja. Ilurce is one of the pioneering wineries to vinify 100% Graciano that is price accessible, and the wine Rio Mazos is their ultimate expression of Graciano from old proprietary vineyards planted by the Escudero family in 1930.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
An old vine selection based on 100% Graciano, the 2016 Rio Mazos was completely destemmed and brought up in 50% new oak. This inky colored effort has a rich, smoky bouquet of blackberries, spicy oak, cedary spice, and violets. With beautiful fruit, plenty of classy integrated oak, full body, a terrific texture, and ripe tannins, it's a beautiful, layered, singular Rioja that’s loaded with character. Drink it any time over the coming decade (and I wouldn’t be surprised to see it keep longer).
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Vinous
Deep ruby. Pungent red and blue fruit, incense and floral aromas are energized by building mineral and spice notes. Shows very good energy and solid thrust on the palate, offering bitter cherry, raspberry and boysenberry flavors and a sweetening suggestion of candied flowers. The spicy note recurs on a very long, lively finish framed by fine-grained, even tannin's.
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Wine Spectator
This plush red wraps ripe fruit flavors of blackberry and currant in a blanket of mocha, toast and spice. Well-integrated tannins and bright acidity keep this structured. Generous, in the modern style. Drink now through 2026. 220 cases made, 150 cases imported.
Graciano has been best known as a blending grape used in Rioja to add color, depth and perfume to Tempranillo. It also thrives in the nearby region of Navarra and a few dedicated winemakers in California and Australia are making singe varietal bottlings certainly worthy of checking out! Graciano’s black fruit and lush tannins make it a perfect pairing to grilled or smoked red meat, as well as game.
Highly regarded for distinctive and age-worthy red wines, Rioja is Spain’s most celebrated wine region. Made up of three different sub-regions of varying elevation: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental. Wines are typically a blend of fruit from all three, although specific sub-region (zonas), village (municipios) and vineyard (viñedo singular) wines can now be labeled. Rioja Alta, at the highest elevation, is considered to be the source of the brightest, most elegant fruit, while grapes from the warmer and drier Rioja Oriental produce wines with deep color and higher alcohol, which can add great body and richness to a blend.
Fresh and fruity Rioja wines labeled, Joven, (meaning young) see minimal aging before release, but more serious Rioja wines undergo multiple years in oak. Crianza and Reserva styles are aged for one year in oak, and Gran Reserva at least two, but in practice this maturation period is often quite a bit longer—up to about fifteen years.
Tempranillo provides the backbone of Rioja red wines, adding complex notes of red and black fruit, leather, toast and tobacco, while Garnacha supplies body. In smaller percentages, Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan) often serve as “seasoning” with additional flavors and aromas. These same varieties are responsible for flavorful dry rosés.
White wines, typically balancing freshness with complexity, are made mostly from crisp, fresh Viura. Some whites are blends of Viura with aromatic Malvasia, and then barrel fermented and aged to make a more ample, richer style of white.