Meet 'Rising Star' Winemaker from Spain :: Javier Arizcuren
Friday April 5, 2024 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Meet one of Decanter magazine's 'Rising Stars of Rioja' ~ Javier Arizcuren
In his own words, the goal of Spanish winemaker Javier Arizcuren is "To recover the memory of La Rioja Baja and to preserve the wine heritage of our ancestors; bringing the expression of a terroir, the Sierra de Yerga, to the bottle." We will meet this exceptional grower and taste his range of pure, multi-layered Rioja red wines at this VIP event.
When Javier Arizcuren took over his family vineyards in 2009, he decided to pursue something no one in his family had done previously: producing wine under the family name. An architect who was designing wineries for others, but also a fifth-generation grape grower, Javier was inspired by the fantastic 16 hectares of mountain vineyards now in his care. He continues to sell some grapes, keeping his most prized parcels for his eponymous project.
These low-yielding vines, some of which are up to 130 years old at high elevations of 1700-2600’, celebrate the historical wine tradition of Quel and the Sierra de Yerga. Over the last 60 years, many winegrowers have abandoned mountain viticulture, moving down to the fertile low fields, replacing the local grapes with Tempranillo, and in the process damaging the reputation of Rioja Baja (Javier prefers the traditional name to Rioja Oriental). Javier is making a valiant effort to combat this, by seeking out more old vines to save and bottling the terroir of the Sierra de Yerga to raise its reputation. It's working. His wines have garnered early support and rave reviews
The grapes are grown organically in Quel, using grazing herds instead of herbicides and pesticides, and vinified with spontaneous fermentation and minimal intervention in his urban winery in Logroño, steps away from his architecture office. We tasted and positively fell in love with this Spaniard's wines. We are so grateful that he has agreed to visit our small village of Spring Lake and conduct a special tasting for our clients.
The wines to be poured will include a new Verdejo white and two of Javier's beautiful Rioja reds.
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Arizcuren Rioja Gatún 2021 750ml |
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RATED 92 JAMES SUCKLING : 'A fruity, elegant and poised red with notes of baked cherries, raspberries, blueberries and mild spices. Medium body with bright acidity. Juicy and succulent with a transparent character and salivating finish. Drink or hold.' Made of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo (all ORGANIC) from north-facing vineyards at 2000’ elevation (which is a high altitude). The grapes are harvested by hand in small crates at the beginning of October. They are destemmed and the three varieties ferment separately, with indigenous yeasts. Assemblage prior to malolactic fermentation. Aged 12 months – 70% in concrete, 30% in Slavonian oak barrels.
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$34.99Buy Now |
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Arizcuren Rioja SoloGraciano 2022 750ml |
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RATED 94 TIM ATKIN : 'Javier Arizcuren believes that Graciano is "part of the future of the Rioja Oriental", given the hotter, earlier vintages and its ability to retain acidity. This comes from a young, eightyear-old vineyard called Foro and is much less austere than some expressions of the grape, with its firm tannins sweetened by blackberry and blueberry fruit. Concentrated yet well balanced. Drink 2024-2030.' Made of 100% Graciano, whose long growing cycle is a perfect fit for El Arenal, a single vineyard composed of sandy soils at 2000’ elevation. The grapes are harvested by hand in small crates. Vinified in open stainless steel tanks with daily treading and minimal pumping over. Aged in 500L French oak barrels for 7 months.
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$59.99Buy Now |
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Cucú Verdejo 2022 750ml |
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In 2008, Beatriz Herranz and her mom, María, planted 5.5 hectares of Verdejo on old family land 2500 feet above sea level in the village of La Seca, Valladolid, in the Cantarranas estate. Then in 2010, she gathered some friends, loaded up a van with grapes, and made 300 bottles of her first wine. The next year, she bought a second barrique and increased production. Since then she has purchased plots of old vines in nearby villages, set up a small winery, and continues to grow the project. Félix Crespo, a childhood friend and fellow winemaker, joined her efforts in 2016. Everything is done by hand and organically, with minimal intervention. Barco del Corneta is certified organic.
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$24.99Buy Now |