Vinsacro means 'sacred wine'. Dioro is a blend of grapes from 100+ year old "vidau" vineyards, where mixed varieties were planted together in the same plot, aged in the best French & American oak barrels. This 'high expression Rioja' is produced in Rioja Baja, on the edge of the Navarra D.O.
Dark ruby color. Aromas of cherry, currant, vanilla bean and hint of tar. Full-bodied with flavors of cherries, cocoa and oak. A touch of sweetness on entry; soft & well-integrated tannins.
"(sourced from a 100+ year old plot of mixed varieties; aged in new and used French oak barrels for 14 months) Deep, bright-rimmed ruby. Ripe black and blue fruits on the expansive, spice- and smoke-accented nose, along with suggestions of vanilla, candied flowers and cola. The oak qualities recede quickly on the palate, which displays sappy, deeply concentrated boysenberry, black raspberry and spicecake flavors that show a suave blend of richness and energy. Supple tannins build steadily on the penetrating finish, which leaves cherry-cola and baking spice notes behind. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2019), 93 pts
"I loved the 2015 Vinsacro Dioro Rioja, and this beauty is 50% Tempranillo, 20% Grenache, 10% each of Mazuelo and Graciano, and the balance Mourvèdre and Bobal, all of which spent 12-14 months in French oak. It boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as smoking good notes of black currants, dried herbs, licorice, and background oak. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and layered on the palate, with terrific fruit and impeccable balance, I suspect it will shine for over a decade."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 2019), 93 pts
"The top of the range is the 2015 Vinsacro Dioro, a wine that is only produced in excellent vintages. It's a blend of 40% Vidau (the old field blend) plus 45% Tempranillo and 15% Mazuelo, from a slope in the south of the Monte Yerga called Cuesta la Reina, from a big, 120-hectare plot that has been with the Escudero family for generations. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel with a long maceration. It matured in new French (70%) and American oak barrels for 18 months. It's still very young and a little shy, with a reticent nose where the lactic and spicy aromas are intermixed with earthy and dark fruit aromas. The palate is full-bodied but perfectly balanced, compact, powerful and serious, with abundant tannins, extract and clout. This should develop nicely in bottle, given its stuffing and balance. An excellent, modern version of a classical Rioja. 20,000 bottles were filled in June 2017. - Luis Gutierrez"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #235, February 2018), 92 pts
"The 2010 Vinsacro Dioro opens to an explosion of flowers and ripe blueberries that is very perfumed. It feels quite modern and aromatic with well-integrated oak and a luscious palate. This is produced from a field blend they call Vidau, which, in their case it is approximately 50% Garnacha, 30% Tempranillo and a myriad of other grapes like Graciano and even Monastrell. The wine aged in brand new French oak barrels for 17 months, and it's clearly a high-end wine with aspirations. 35,000 bottles. - - Luis Gutierrez"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (April 2015), 92 pts
"Bright purple. Potent dark berry aromas are complicated by notes of vanilla, pipe tobacco and woodsmoke. Fresh and precise, with densely packed black raspberry and cola flavors that opening nicely with air. Gentle tannins build slowly on the clinging finish, with the raspberry and smoke notes echoing. - Josh Raynolds"
- Steven Tanzer ‘s International Wine Cellar (September / October 2014), 91 pts
"A terrific value from Rioja, the 2010 Dioro was aged in French oak for 12-14 months. It displays a deep ruby/purple color along with a big, sweet kiss of anise, blackberries, blackcurrants and a hint of lead pencil shavings as well as a deep, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. This luscious, opulent Rioja is from the more modern school of winemaking, delivering plenty of flavor depth and character. Enjoy it over the next 4-5 years. - Robert Parker"
- Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate (November 2014), 90 pts
"The Dioro is fresh and fruit forward showing ripe blackberry and dark cherry fruit. The palate is full and richly flavored of both dark fruit and tobacco with an accent of dark cocoa, finishing long with firm but ripe tannins. Drinking well now."
- I-WineReview (Report 43: Rioja - A New Look), 90 pts
"(100% tempranillo, raised in 100% new French oak): Inky ruby. Aromas and flavors of cherry-cola, cassis and vanilla, with intense floral and spice nuances. Shows very good depth and power, especially for the vintage, picking up a smoky quality with air. Closes with impressive thrust and length, with supple tannins adding grip. This is a very successful '08."
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Sept 2012), 91 pts
"The previous vintages was produced from 40% Tempranillo, 40% Garnacha, 10% Graciano, and 10% Mazuela. The wine is aged for 12-14 months in new French oak barrels. With a short amount of air this became an interesting wine with a meaty nose containing notes of salty Old Bay seasoning. In the mouth this modern wine has salty dark red fruit and good ripeness that is balanced with acidity. Though it is still quite dense and will benefit from short-term aging, it is quite a good drink right now. 2015-2020."
Hogshead wine blog (December 29th 2011),**(**)
"Hefty and a tiny bit herbal on the nose, with tomato, red berry and spice aromas. The palate is perfectly formed and balanced, with roasted berry, smoked meat and earthy flavors. Turns juicy and dry on what amounts to a tight finish. Excellent modern Rioja to drink now through 2015. - Michael Schachner"
- Wine Enthusiast (December 15th 2011), 92 pts
"The 2005 Dioro was produced from a stricter selection and was aged in new French oak for 12-14 months. A saturated purple color, it displays a brooding bouquet of wood smoke, pencil lead, espresso, truffle, and blackberry. Dense and loaded on the palate, it has gobs of ripe black fruit, excellent balance, and a lengthy, pure finish. It will continue to blossom over the next 3-4 years and have a drinking window extending from 2014 to 2025."
Wine Advocate (April 2010), 92 pts
"(aged in new French oak): Glass-staining ruby. Extremely perfumed, oak-accented nose displays cherry-vanilla and blackberry preserves, with a sexy floral note and building spiciness. Full-bodied and velvety, offering palate-coating flavors of macerated cherry, dark berries and vanilla bean. Finishes very long and sweet, with persistent spiciness and a hint of smoke. An extremely attractive and balanced example of the modern style."
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Sept/Oct 2011), 92 pts
The Escudero family has been making wine and growing grapes, for four generations, in the rugged, semi-desert foothills around Grávalos in the southwestern corner of the Rioja Baja region. Over ...
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