NC- 2019 Luis Ripa Rosado

During his Master of Wine studies, José Luis traveled extensively, discovering other exceptional aged rosés like Pibarnon, Trevallon, Tempier, and Château Simone, further fueling his passion. With his wife’s support he launched the 'Ripa' project in 2016 with the goal of creating the ultimate aged Rioja rosé, honoring the great rosé styles he so admired.

"Grenache and Tempranillo grapes from two 30+ year old, bush-pruned vineyards located in the Najerilla Valley, in the Rioja Alta district of the DOC Rioja, where soils are of calcareous clay type with a slightly higher ferric percentage than in the rest of the district.

"The grapes were destemmed and taken to a stainless steel vat, where must was bled (saignée) for about 24 hours and racked. After that, the juice was taken to 500-liter French oak used barrels, where it fermented and stayed for another 18 months. The blending of the wines from the two different grapes was done just a few days before bottling and consisted of 85% Grenache and 15% Tempranillo.

"My idea was to make a rosé with subtlety and sophistication in the nose and a firm structure and length in the mouth, more vinous than fruity."
- José Luis Ripa

"As I mentioned last year, José Luis Ripa only started his own label in the last couple of years, dedicated to solely making Rioja Rosado. He probably has plenty of red and white Rioja in his cellar to drink already, as his wife is Maria José López de Heredia! His 2019 Rosado is another stunning wine, crafted from a cépages of eighty-five percent Garnacha and fifteen percent Tempranillo, with the wine is fermented and raised in older, French oak demi-muids for eighteen months. The bouquet is bright, classy and complex, wafting from the glass in a mix of strawberries, watermelon, orange peel, salty soil tones, a touch of Rioja brown spices, a discreet touch of oak and a top note of dried rose petals. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied, complex and impeccably balanced, with a fine core of fruit, superb mineral undertow and grip, impressive focus and a long, vibrant and elegant finish. This is brilliant Rosado!"
-John Gilman, 94 Points

Standard Retail Price: $49.99 per bottle

Foxcroft Online Price: $44 per bottle*
*This wine is arriving soon; we'll email you when it's ready for pickup