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Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco
Bodegas Amaren
Spain - La Rioja - Rioja

Amaren is produced from plots located around the winery – Samaniego and the north of Villabuena de Álava and Leza. The demanding level that is set in Amaren requires that all the wines are produced in limited quantities. Vine plants are composed of small clusters which make perfect ripening possible with a high concentration of nuances. A wine with great aromatic intensity and elegance.

Bright clean yellow color. On the nose ripe fruit, stone fruit, citrus with hints of tropical fruits. Noticeable pastry and buttery characters coming from the batônnage. Pleasant chalky notes that showcase the clay-calcareous terroir along with additional complexity thanks to the wood fermentation. Tremendously fresh thanks to the acidity that the combination of the diffrent white varieties provide.
Stone fruit with citrus notes and tropical flavors are accompanied with an enjoyable enveloping and unctuous mouthfeel that shows the labor intensive stirring of the lees. Very long finish with saline hints that perfectly match the chalky-clay soils of the Leza area from where the grapes are sourced.

Specifications
Appellation
Rioja
Wine Type
White
Varietal(s)
Viura, Malvasia, Tempranillo Blanco
Age of vines
50+ years
Vinification
Manually harvested, grapes are selected on a double sorting table (first clusters and then berries). Only intact berries are selected. Alcoholic fermentation is conducted in 225 and 500 litre French oak barrels, whereas a small batch ferments in a concrete egg.
AGEING: 10 months in barrel and concrete egg with regular batônnage.
Pairings

Pasta, rice dishes, white meats with light sauces, roasted or grilled fish, seafood, roasted vegetables, foie-gras.

Reviews and News

2018 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 92 PTS - JS

2018 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 92 PTS - JS

james suckling hq logo plain"A pretty, vibrant and fresh white from Rioja with green apples and pears and some lime undertones. Medium-bodied with bright fruit and a vivid finish. Some cream at the end. Drink now."
- James Suckling (October 2020), 92 pts

2017 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - JS

2017 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - JS

james suckling hq logo plain"A very soft white with ripe melon and pears, as well as a chalky edge. The palate has a sleek, fresh and juicy feel with bright, juicy pears. Drink now."
- James Suckling (Spain Tasting Report 2019), 91 pts

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2017 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 90 PTS - TA

2017 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 90 PTS - TA

tim atkin logo 250"Juan Luis Cañas makes this sweetly wooded blanco from a combination of Viura and 15% Malvasía grapes. White flower and vanilla spice aromas segue into a palate with racy acidity, citrus and wet stone flavours and a sappy, dry, refreshing finish. 2020-23."
TIM ATKIN RIOJA 2020 SPECIAL REPORT, February 2020, 90 pts

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2016 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 93 PTS - VINOUS

2016 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 93 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"(all new French oak) Limpid yellow-gold. An expansive bouquet evokes fresh melon, Meyer lemon, peach nectar and buttered toast, with a smoky mineral quality emerging as the wine opens up. Juicy and energetic, offering densely packed orchard and citrus fruit and sweet butter flavors and a subtle touch of vanilla. Shows impressive energy and mineral lift on the penetrating, highly persistent finish, which features a sexy floral quality and a mineral flourish.- Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (February 2019), 93 pts

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2016 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 90 PTS - WA

2016 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 90 PTS - WA

wa90"The barrel-fermented 2016 Blanco Fermentado en Barrica is a classical blend of Viura with 15% Malvasía Riojana, aged with intense work with the lees for ten months. It has plenty of character and is a bit leesy, with a reductive personality. It combines some creamy notes and citrus freshness. The palate is medium-bodied with good freshness and a serious profile. 20,000 bottles were filled in September 2017.- Luis Gutiérrez"
- Robert Parker's Wine Adovcate (Issue #235, February 2018), 90 pts

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2016 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 90 PTS - JD

2016 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 90 PTS - JD

jeb dunnuck logo 250"A blend of 85% Viura and 15% Malvasia, the 2016 Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco was, you guessed it, fermented and aged in barrel, all of which were new. It has a rock star nose of lime, white flowers, and honeyed, flinty minerality as well as a medium-bodied, richly textured, balanced style on the palate. The new oak is hardly noticeable, and the wine stays clean and balanced. This is one seriously delicious drink."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 2019), 90 pts

Go to Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco

2015 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 92 PTS - JS

2015 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 92 PTS - JS

james suckling hq logo plain"This wine has real energy, freshness and plenty of depth. Ripe, smoothly-rendered fruits, white peach and lemon, and a Chablis-esque, stony finish. Works well. Drink now."
- James Suckling (Spain Tasting Report 2017), 92 pts

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2015 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - VINOUS

2015 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"Pale gold. Ripe pear and nectarine aromas show excellent clarity, picking up a lemon zest nuance and turning livelier with air. Silky, seamless and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated orchard and citrus fruit flavors given lift and spine by smoky minerality. A suave vanilla note comes up on the fragrant, extremely persistent finish, which leaves behind a juicy Meyer lemon note. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (May 2017), 91 pts

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2013 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - VINOUS

2013 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo 250"Light, bright yellow. An expressive, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh pear, tangerine, ginger and honeysuckle, with a minerally element adding vibrancy and lift. Sappy and broad on entry, then tighter in the middle, offering juicy, deeply concentrated citrus and orchard fruit flavors plus a hint of smokiness. Shows intense mineral and floral character on the clinging finish, which shows excellent tenacity. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (November 2015), 91 pts

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2011 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - WA

2011 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - WA

wa91"The 2011 Barrel Fermented White is fermented and aged for eight months in oak barrels and has a clean and precise nose with notes of pear, chamomile, pollen and fennel. The medium to full-bodied palate shows ripe flavors but plenty of acidity, in a wine that is both big and delicate. It should age well. Drink 2014-2017. - Luis Gutierrez"
- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #210, December 2013), 91 pts

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2011 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - IWC

2011 Amaren Rioja Barrel Fermented Blanco - 91 PTS - IWC

tanzer iwc 91 pts"(85% viura and 15% malvasia): Light yellow. Waxy pear and orange pith aromas show very good power, with a bright mineral overlay adding energy. Incisive and uncompromisingly dry on the palate, showing broad but nicely focused flavors of citrus fruits, pear skin and honeysuckle. Finishes silky and quite long, leaving candied ginger and honey flavors in its wake."
- Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (September/October 2014), 91 pts

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Producer Information: Bodegas Amaren

Founded in 1995, Bodegas Amaren is the second project of Juan Luís Cañas, owner and manager of Bodegas Luís Cañas.

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