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Multi Award Winning Wine Merchant
Established 2006
“José Gil, one of the regions best young talents” - Tim Atkin (Wine Journalist and Rioja Specialist) stated when awarding José Gil ‘Young Winemaker of the Year 2021’.
It is perhaps unsurprising that José is making his own wines, having grown up in the hills around the village of San Vicente de la Sonsierra gaining experience from an early age from his family's Bodegas Olmaza. What is surprising, is how he is breaking the mould in Rioja.
Drawing on experience he gained working in Burgundy and the Mosel, José alongside his wife Vicky manage very small, high altitude, old vine (up to 120 yo) vineyard sites that became too difficult for the family's Bodegas Olamza to manage.
Their approach is trailblazing in Rioja, by producing site specific wines with Burgundian elegance - no heavily oaked 'traditional' Riojas here! Tim Atkin has placed emphasis on how Rioja is becoming more like Burgundy and Barolo in the sense that many brilliant producers are focusing on individual villages and sites, making single vineyard wines and redefining the attitude to terroir on Rioja. As José Gil states “The wine that expresses place and ages best is a balanced wine”.
These wines are drinking now and up until 2030 if you can wait that long!
José Gil San Vincente de la Sonsierra 2022 - This 'village-blend' is majority Tempranillo with Garnacha and a small amount of Viura. Taken from three vineyards which vary in height from 450-650 metres but are all around 80-130 years old on a mixture of sandy and alluvial soils. 50% wholebunch and 50% destemmed fermentation and aged in concrete, stainless and 500 ltr old French oak. Rioja meets Burgundy with silky tannins and wonderful finessed complexity with a palate of raspberry and black cherry fruit.
José Gil Vinedos en Labastida 2022 - Field blend of Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha and 5% white grapes from two sites in Labastida. One is 45 years old, the other 80. Both parcels sit on warmer sites below the village. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks, aged in concrete and 500L French oak. Bramble fruit, floral tones and elegant tannins!
José Gil El Bardallo 2022 - From three separate sub-parcels. Tempranillo, 10% Viura and a small amount of Garnacha Tinta. Vines sit on chalk and limestone at 515 metres. Tim Atkin gave this a score of 97 "Pine and rose petal aromas, beautifully sculpted tannins and layers of pomegranate, raspberry and red cherry. Wonderfully complex".
José Gil La Canoca 2022 - Tempranillo with a small amount of Viura from 50 year old cooler vineyards with an altitude of 540m. Manual harvest, destemmed and aged in 300ltr barrels and around 10 months in the medieval cellar in the San Vicente's Castle. Bright and perfumed with dark, juicy fruit and herbal notes on the palate. Well integrated tannins and fresh acidity.
José Gil Rioja Camino de Ribas 2022 - Tempranillo and Garnacha with a tiny percentage of white varieties from the Concova Valley. 120yo vines at an altitude of 610 metres. Influenced by the northerly wind from the Cantabrians which allows winds to flow over the top and down the valley. 10 months in 500L French oak. Little black cherry, vibrant red fruit, herbal and balsamic notes. Silky tannins and vibrant acidity. Very refined!