2005 Bodegas Puelles Gran Reserva Rioja

Professional Reviews

Staff Reviews

KW

Kirk Walker

Kirk Walker

This wine represents one of the most unique and fascinating things about this region: aged wines at a reasonable price, that are direct from the winery. Grown in great terroir in the La Rioja Alta region, this is mostly Tempranillo, with a little Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano, and is aged in mostly older barrels (French and American oak). Maturing, but still youthful, this wine delivers classic Rioja character: savory, dark fruits infused with spice, leather, and earth.

Notes

A K&L Direct Import! Jesús Puelles is one of the most talented vignerons in Rioja. Hailing from a long line of vineyard worker/owners, Puelles knows the terruño in his little slice of land in the Rioja Alta town of Abalos. All of the grapes for his red wines come from his own 26 hectares, on chalky clay soil, all within the Rioja Alta village of Abalos. Felix, Jesús's older brother, handles the winemaking (as well as packing all our orders--gracias, Felix!). Utilizing a blend of roughly 50-50 French and American oak barrels, generally of 1-4 years of age for the Gran Reserva, this is a juicy, brightly fruited Gran Reserva, even at 12 years of age, though it shows the hints of spice and leathery savor we love in classic, well-made Rioja. Fresh, focused, and generously fruited, yet ultimately textbook Rioja, this is what we have come to expect from Casa Puelles and why I believe these continue to be among our most popular Spanish wines.