Jose Luis Ripa Rioja Rose Garnacha 2020

Grape: Garnacha 
Vintage: 2020
Type: Rose

Crafted by José Luis Ripa in the heart of Rioja Alta, this serious, age-worthy rosado completely rejects the modern trend of pale, fleeting pink wines. The fruit comes from old, low-yielding Garnacha vines grown on iron-rich clay and limestone terraces, which naturally capture a deep structural intensity. Following a brief maceration to extract color and fine phenolics, the juice undergoes a slow spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak vessels. It is then aged for a patient thirty months in large, old wood casks, allowing the liquid to breathe and evolve into a deeply complex, savory style that mirrors the historic pink wines of Rioja's past.

In the glass, it shows a stunning, deep coppery-salmon hue with brilliant golden edges. The nose is highly complex and broad, moving far beyond simple fruit to offer dried red currants, orange peel, wild thyme, and a faint hint of toasted almond. On the palate, the extensive wood aging reveals a fleshy, texturally rich mid-palate anchored by a fine, "crystalline" tannic framework. A sweeping wave of cool-climate mountain acidity balances the wine's impressive physical weight, keeping it vibrant and nimble. The finish is remarkably long, dry, and savory, leaving a persistent impression of dried cherries, blood orange zest, and crushed stone.