Winemaker Notes
Cherry red in color with aromas of hazelnut, vanilla, toast, ripe cherry and licorice.
Blend: 90% Tempranillo, 6% Maturana, 4% Graciano
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
An elegant reserva, with well-integrated wood and alcohol. Plum and cherry at the core, lined with cocoa nibs, tobacco leaves, thyme, oregano and sage, with a thin veil of white and black pepper. Tannins are firm but fine, etched in spice and drenched in blood orange.
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
The 2018 Eguren Ugarte RESERVA shows a deep ruby color and opens with fragrant spices and attractive berry aromas. Medium to full-bodied, it is slightly elevated on the palate, supported by a frame of fine tannins that add structure without heaviness. Flavors of blackberries and blueberries come through with clarity, leading to a finish that shows pleasing lift and balance. A natural pairing with lamb chops with rosemary and garlic, where the wine’s depth and spice complement the savory richness beautifully. (Tasted: March 26, 2026, San Francisco, CA)
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James Suckling
This opens with notes of espresso, figs, dark berries and a touch of wood. The palate is full-bodied, layered with licorice, dark fruit and subtle cedar. Succulent flavors and fine-grained tannins provide both richness and structure. A blend of 90% tempranillo, 6% maturana and 4% graciano.
Hailed as the star red variety in Spain’s most celebrated wine region, Tempranillo from Rioja, or simply labeled, “Rioja,” produces elegant wines with complex notes of red and black fruit, crushed rock, leather, toast and tobacco, whose best examples are fully capable of decades of improvement in the cellar.
Rioja wines are typically a blend of fruit from its three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, although specific sub-region (zonas), village (municipios) and vineyard (viñedo singular) wines can now be labeled. Rioja Alta and Alavesa, at the highest elevations, are 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, great body and richness.