2021 Yjar

Tasting notes:

Yjar 2021 offers a vivid garnet hue and opens with a fragrant bouquet of roses, peony, and subtle Mediterranean herbs, layered with exotic spices like Chinese five-spice and warming cinnamon. On the palate it’s medium-to-full bodied, framed by fresh, lively acidity and silky, refined tannins. Flavours of cherry and plum are threaded through gentle spicy undertones, with a long, nuanced finish that echoes the floral and herbal notes and leaves a polished, elegant impression.

Producer description:

Yjar is the premium single-vineyard project of Telmo Rodríguez at Remelluri in Rioja Alavesa: a meticulously selected 3.8-hectare plot at high altitude in the foothills of the Sierra de Toloño, planted with old vines of indigenous Rioja grapes including Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Granegro and Rojal. Espousing a philosophy of terroir, history and authenticity, Rodríguez has revived and accentuated this small limestone site — once part of monastic holdings and later cultivated by local stewards — using native yeasts, minimal intervention and lengthy ageing in French oak. Yjar is crafted with precision and elegance, offering a distinct expression of Rioja’s heritage and landscape.