Urbina Reserva Especial 2001

The Lady Magazine has mentioned Urbina Reserva Especial 2001 as one of their Wines of the week: June 14 for drinking with your father on Father’s Day. It features alongside Champagne Billecart-Salmon, a Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny Les Beaune and a Riesling Spatlese from the great Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt.

A wide range of Urbina Riojas are available at Fareham Wine Cellar.

Henry Jeffreys, who wrote the article, describes the Urbina Reserva Especial 2001 thus, “With its layers of cedar and tobacco, this Rioja is perfect if your father is, like mine, a bit old-fashioned.”

We have been supplying wines from Urbina for a number of years. Urbina is a great, small family-owned  Rioja producer whose house styles tends to more medium-bodied Rioja with lots of red fruit and beautifully integrated vanilla / oak characteristics, mainly due to the fact that they age their fantastic Rioja wines for quite a long time prior to release. The Urbina Gran Reserva 1996 is their current release of Gran Reserva, for example. For more information read my blog post all about Urbina and their wines.

Urbina Reserva Especial 2001 is a blend of 95% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo and Graciano. Aged 18 months in American oak casks (12 months in new oak and 6 in 7 year old oak) and a minimum of 12 months in bottle before release.

Urbina Reserva Especial 2001 Review

“The 2001 Seleccion Especial was produced from organically grown fruit from 50+-year-old vines. It was aged for 24 months in French and American oak. It is dark ruby-colored with a funky/earthy nose that also reveals crushed rock, spice box, and black cherry. Made in a traditional style, it is graceful on the palate with silky red fruits, lively acidity, excellent balance, and a pure finish. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 6-8 years.” 90 Points, Robert Parker.

Urbina Reserva Especial 2001 Rioja