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Altos R Pigeage Graciano 2014

Rioja DOCa

Click to view awards View awards
  • 92pts, Guia Peñin, 2019
  • 92pts, Tim Atkin Report, 2018
  • Silver, International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2018
  • Silver, International Wine Challenge, 2018
  • Gold, International Wine Challenge Catavinum, 2018
  • Great Gold, International Wine Awards, 2018
  • Great Gold, Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition, 2018
  • Grand Gold, Concurso Nacional de Monovarietales, MonoVino 2018, 2018
  • 93pts, blindtasted.com (Andreas Larsson), 2018
  • 91pts, Guía Sin Mala Uva 2018, 2018
  • Gold, Concours des Vins Lyon, 2018
  • Gold, China Wine & Spirits Awards (CWSA), 2018
  • Gold, Asia Wine Trophy, 2018
  • Gold, Berliner Wine Trophy, 2018
  • Bronze, Challenge International du Vin, 2018
  • Gold, Certamen TopWine 2018, 2018

Eight Golds, plus top scores and the ultimate 95–100 from International Wine Awards, this is a stunning, very rare Rioja. It’s made purely from the region’s exciting Graciano grape. Very low yield tiny berries, long aged in new oak, this is sublime.

Eight Golds, plus top scores and the ultimate 95–100 from International Wine Awards, this is a stunning, very rare Rioja. It’s made purely from the region’s exciting Graciano grape. Very low yield tiny berries, long aged in new oak, this is sublime.

Beyond the Label

Tasting notes

Ripe blackberry, raspberry, with mocha, toasty vanilla, firm tannins

Aroma

Smoky, espresso, chocolatey and black fruit aroma

Altos R Pigeage Graciano 2014

More information

  • 14.0% ABV
  • 10.5 Units
  • 750.00 ml
  • 1 December, 2025

This 95–100 point release is Jean-Marc Sauboua’s pure, ultra-rare Graciano. Never heard of it? Not surprising as, despite being Rioja’s most important grape variety about a century ago, today it makes up just 1% of plantings. Oz Clarke called it “far and away the most interesting vine in Rioja”. Jean-Marc is a great fan and doing his best to revive it. He only makes this flagship special cuvée in the best vintages, because Graciano is hard to ripen. Fruit from ancient bush vines, with yields of 10–15 hectolitres per hectare, accounts for amazing length of flavour. Fermented slowly in open top wooden fermenters, with once a day plunge down (pigeage), then with 20 months in all new French oak, this is a powerful red. For now, decant first.

"Aromas of cedar and dried flowers with berries, follow through with fine tannins and a fresh finish" James Suckling
Wine Critic
Map showing Rioja DOCa
Tasting note information