Sierra de Tolono Raposo 2016

High up in the foothills of the Sierra de Tolono, in Rioja Alavesa, Sandra Bravo works in some of the oldest, and highest altitude vineyards in Rioja, growing Garnacha, Tempranillo, Viura and some Graciano. This young winemaker who worked in France, New Zealand, and Italy before coming back to her native land translates the mountainous landscape into pure and expressive wines.

She has a small winery in Villabuena de Alava, where she works with steel, amphoras, and old wood. From that area she also works on various micro-plots, being able to harvest multiple varietals from micro-terroirs that together form a fresh, beautiful image of the area. 

Sierra de Tolono Raposo is the Tempranillo from Villabuena, aged in large oak barrels. Crunchy brambles and red cherry fruit segue into a palate that's savoury, dense and serious with the potential to age.

93 Points - James Suckling

Plenty of spicy saffron and clove aromas hover over ripe red plums and mulberries. The palate has nice fruit focus and depth with good tannin weight and detail.