It is rare in Rioja for producers to own all their own vines, let alone to farm them organically. Certified since 1995, this estate is run by brothers Luís, Ramón and Andrés. Working closely together as a team, Luís provides the commercial nous, Andrés the bravado and Ramón the winemaking. They have some superb vineyards and grow the full range of Navarran varieties, including the wonderful and now rare Graciano. Having worked so hard on growing the fruit, there is a clear reluctance to use too much oak on the barrel-aged wines - a breath of fresh air in Rioja.
The Rioja Tinto Qvinto Arrio is not always what people expect from Rioja. it has deep colour, pure fruit flavours and dark mouth-coating tannins but no aggressive oak. It`s a great wine by the glass and behaves like something grander, always benefitting from decanting.
The Rioja Crianza Qvinto Arrio displays sumptuous, intense flavours, just developing those dried, mature fruit characters and just a hint of spicy, smoky oak. Rioja Crianza Single Varietal Garnacha Magister Bibendi is the Riojan take on great Grenache; big, juicy flavour with good colour but easy tannins, knit by gentle toasty oak. It is mature enough now for the dried fruit characters to be peeping through. A real joy, especially when enjoyed at cellar temperature and nursed in a wide glass.
