Bodegas Marques de Vargas

The last four Marques de Vargas have been involved in the Rioja trade, but it was only with the building of a winery in 1989 on the historic Hacienda Pradolagar that wine was sold under the family name. Unusual in Rioja as a single estate wine, the property has 70 hectares under vine, 75% Tempranillo, 10% Mazuelo and the remainder Graciano and Garnacha. Winemaking is non interventionist, whilst barrel ageing is carried out with the minimum of oxidation. The wines from here are the polar opposite of the very traditional style of Rioja Alta, having more weight and body and more pronounced fruit. Perhaps this makes them more in tune with the times (American commentators are certainly very enamoured with them), but what is indisputable is that the range of wines from here, all unfiltered and unfined, are majestic and of the highest quality.