Iconic Tempranillo producers, Bodegas Roda, have excelled yet again here with the Roda I. Beginning quite linear on the palate, it opens up dramatically with some delicate spice and nuttyness. It will take time to flesh out completely but it will be worth the wait.

Badiola is a winery in the heart of Rioja Alavesa. Founded in 2018 by acquiring an existing winery, Badiola offers village and single vineyard wines that display the freshness, elegance and depth of flavours which distinguish Rioja Alavesa. Made from the high quality, low-yielding grapes from hillside (Laderas) vines on limestone soils this is a very versatile satisfying drinking wine and a great example of cooler climate Tempranillo from Rioja Alavesa.

There are minuscule volumes produced of the Cirsion by Bodegas Roda (the name of the thistle which is Roda's logo) which is made from grapes specially selected for the suppleness of the tannins they deliver. Parcels selected are from low-yielding older Tempranillo vines of 45 years and more, from four vineyards. Choosing the plants with the softest tannins, this makes the wine very attractive and supple early on, but it still has great ageing potential.

The blend here is 85% Tempranillo, 6% Garnacha and 9% Graciano. This wonderfully complex wine has aromas of blackberries, raspberries and notes of smoke, minerals and herbs. The tannins are firm, slightly austere and yet ripe, balancing expressive fruit concentration on the palate and leading to a long refined finish.

Artelan is a range of contemporary wines that reflect the personality of Rioja Alavesa, the highest subzone of the Rioja DOCa. Rioja Alavesa is one of the greatest wine terroirs in Spain, combining altitude, a high percentage of limestone in the soils and a predominance of old vineyards. The result are wines that display great freshness, elegance and depth of flavours.

Intense red cherry colour, clean and bright. It displays intense notes to ripe fruit and spicy touches, well integrated with the oak ageing. Tasty, rounded in mouth with an intense and long aftertaste. From the family's first winery, established in Rioja in 1889, to their opening of their ultra-modern winery in 1985, Bodegas Valdemar have always been innovators in the region. All of their wines are made from estate-grown grapes and they have become renowned for their modern, attractive style of wines which have become a benchmark for the region.

Spanish big guns, Remírez de Ganuza have produced a quite sublime old vine Tempranillo blend from the famed Rioja region that will defy all expectations. A luscious aroma of asian spicies and black fruits greet the nose before unfurling into flavours of dark berry fruit, cigar box, mushroom and blood plum. Brilliantly structured with life in front of it that will stretch with ease to 2025. If you're looking for a taste of Spanish royalty, start here.

Cedar, touches of tobacco and glac cherry on the nose. The palate is gentle and medium bodied, very savoury, showing dark cherries, vanilla, black olives and nuttiness. A classy wine.

The Grand-Daddy of Fernando Remirez de Ganuza's wines derived from Tempranillo. Rich fruit flavours of red cherry and hints of typical cola are dominant with a delicate acid structure perfect for long term aging.