R&G Rolland - Galarreta
A JOINT PROJECT BRINGS TWO CULTURES TOGETHER.
A DECISIVE STEP FOR THE PRESTIGE OF SPAIN'S GREATEST WINES
Two trajectories, two styles and two cultures but a common goal. French winemaker and consultant Michel Rolland and Spanish wine entrepreneur Javier Galarreta have joined forces in a project that highlights the great virtues of Spain and its wines: excellent terroir and solid experience make great quality wines with real potential in the international markets.
As one of the leading winemakers in the world, Michel Rolland has influenced many aspects of both the French and global wine industry. Javier Galarreta, along with a group of wineries, set up Araex in 1993 to market Rioja Alavesa wines. Today, it is one of the leading exporters of quality wine in Spain.
R&G Rolland - Galarreta Vineyard
The grapes used to produce R&G Rioja grow in vineyards located in Rioja Alavesa, widely considered the premium area in the appellation Rioja DOCa. Out of the 540 hectares owned by Bodegas Labastida and a selection of plots in the highlands of Elvillar, we have selected some of the best vineyards and grapes that grow at an altitude between 450 and 700 meters above sea level.
The grapes used to produce Rolland Galarreta Ribera del Duero grow in vineyards located on the highest vineyards in Ribera del Duero, at an altitude of 915 metres. During the summer -a key time for the ripening of the grapes- altitude acts as a buffer for extreme weather conditions. Out of the 83 hectares owned and controlled by Bodegas Valtravieso, we have selected some of the best vineyards and grapes that grow in poor rocky soils with a high limestone content. These factors contribute to higher acidity levels in the grape, which enables the production of more balanced, markedly fruity wines.
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Guillemot-Michel Vire-Clesse Charleston is made from 100 percent Chardonnay.
This cuvée is produced from hundred-year old vines that the great-grandfather planted after he returned from World War I. The family wanted to honor his memory and vinify these vines the same way he did, in old demi-muids.
Charleston is a deep and complex wine that gently express itself in the glass, offering juicy white fruit flavors and a lengthy finish.
Charleston is vinified and aged for one year in demi-muids of over 10 years old. During the following harvest, the wine is racked and placed in vats for another 6 months of aging before bottling.
Fish in white sauce, poultry in creamy sauce, hard cheeses.
Review:
The 2020 Viré-Clessé Charleston is the most structured, concentrated wine in the range, mingling notions of crisp orchard and stone fruit with scents of clear honey, white flowers, beeswax and mint in an inviting bouquet. Medium to full-bodied ample and satiny, it's layered and multidimensional, with impressive depth at the core, racy acids and chalky grip. Derived from the Guillemot family's oldest parcel of vines (dating back to 1918), it's built to age.
-Wine Advocate 94 Points
A deep powerful Gran Reserva from one of Rioja Alavesa’s most enduring family run wineries. The hillside terraced vineyards are sheltered by the Sierra Cantabria Mountains to the north from harsh weather extremes. Small plot production is utilized in this region of infertile chalky clay soil to produce clusters of excellent quality. Almost 900 plots are needed to complete the approximately 400 hectares of estate-owned or cellar-controlled vineyards, some with vines more than 100 years in age.
Tasting notes
Ruby red color with earthy tones. The wine shows finesse, elegance and complexity with good concentration of black fruit, thyme and rosemary with secondary aromas of leather and tobacco leaves. In the palate it is polished and rounded, making it pleasant and easy to drink. Fleshy with both elegance and power. It has touches of black fruit jam and liquorice. A long, delicious and persistent finish.
Suitable for pairing with a long, copious meal where it can accommodate braised vegetables, cold cuts, peppers stuffed with hake and shrimp, mushroom omelettes, cod Rioja style, both red and white meat... and so on.