Rulei Vina El Moral Vinedo Singular, Rioja – 2019

This magnificent red comes from a small single vineyard of ancient Garnacha vines planted in 1910, on a steep, north-facing clay-soiled slope at 623mts altitude in the Rioja Alta region.

It has aromas of raspberries, mountain herbs and creamy oak. On the palate it has real depth and density of dark berry fruit flavours with spice and minerality. Full bodied, round and rich but at the same time vibrantly fresh.

Enjoy with roast lamb, stews, sausages or nuts.

Only 116 cases were produced. Drink now – 2030

The 2019 vintage has not yet been rated but the 2018 was awarded 96pts by Decanter Magazine and described by Pedro Ballesteros MW as “a future icon” and “an unforgettable wine”.

Bodega Rulei is a small, artisanal winery founded in 1890 in the village of Badaran in the heart of the Alto Najerilla Valley in the Rioja Alta sub-region. Historically this area specialised in Garnacha grapes grown on high altitude vineyards, but most of these old vineyards have now been abandoned.

Their Vina El Moral vineyard of Garnacha vines over 100 years old is classified as “Vinedo Singular”, a new designation of single vineyards launched in Rioja in 2017 to encourage the bottling of terroir-specific wines by small producers in the region. It requires amongst other things that the vines must be at least 35 years old, hand-harvested, produce yields at least 20% below the DOC Rioja stipulated levels and that wine quality must be rated 93 points or more on two occasions by local officials.