Vibrant Rioja Comes to Atlanta-

Good times were to be had at One Midtown Kitchen today for the Vibrant Rioja Atlanta trade tasting. Featured were some of Spain's best Riojas- from heavy hitters like Marqués de Riscal, Muga, and Campo Viejo; to the small familial estate producers. Overall, the quality of the wines was very high with an attractive quality to price ratio.

On the value end, Rosé was a very attractive option. I generally like Rosé wines, but have a hard time finding one that I love. The Rioja Rosado wines that I tasted today brought me closer to finding that passion. Some highlights included: the Hacienda Lopez de Haro Rosado 2oo8- 100% Tempranillo- lively green apple, spice, mineral, and violets; the Muga Rosado 2009- 60% Garnacha, 30% Viura, and 10% Tempranillo- fresh mineral notes with strawberry and apple; and the El Coto Rosado 2008- 50/50 Garnacha and Tempranilla, vibrant with a peppery and leathery kick and beautiful perfumed red fruit. All of these wines are perfect for casual summer drinking, but offer an added dimension of depth along with the crisp fruit- and all hover around the $10 price point!

There were several standouts among the reds. The best of them had lush dark fruits standing out among the earthy and leathery characteristics of the Tempranillo, with the new oak spice deeply wound within. A perfect example of this was a pair of wines from Maetierra Dominum. Their Quatro Pagos 2005, from old vines and aged 15-18 months in new French oak, is steeped in vanilla bean, espresso, and currant; building to a palate of silky currant and berries where the oak notes from the nose fade into a finish of mellow tannins and fine length. MD's Quatro Pagos Vintage 2005 ups the ante with over 18 months in new French oak; and notes of perfumed lavender, wild berry, and vanilla- with vibrant plum and cherry notes and fully integrated spice. The tannins are long with a velvet grip. These wines sell for between $40-$60. Outstanding with equal parts bold/hedonistic and depth/nuance. Other standouts for me included the Baron de Ley Gran Reserva 2001, and Campo Viejo's Ysios Reserva 2004.

This was a great opportunity for a crash course in Rioja, and a great reminder of the outstanding quality and value of these wines- from the everyday to the high-end. I hope to explore this region a little further in the future- cheers!