Ramon Bilbao Rioja Reserva 2012

What a cracking read is 'Around the World in 80 Days.' It's got it all; circumnavigation, French valets and a reminder of the extraordinary wealth of the 19th Century British aristocracy. How times change though, 80 days to circumnavigate the globe? We'd be furious if it took us 80 hours, what was there a 2-day stopover in Auckland or something? It's not really necessary though, Ramon Bilbao realised you can circumnavigate the globe purely by tasting wine from all over the planet. Wines like Ramon's Reserva Rioja are so expressive of place that you really are transported to the North of Spain with no need for a hot air balloon. Hence why a man is sailing a pocket watch on the label... How much better would Around the World in 80 Days have been if the main character was Salvador Dali? Excuse us, that's just how are brains work.

Bodegas Ramon Bilbao was founded in 1924 by Ramon Bilbao Murga in Haro. He was an experienced wine trader and a pioneer in the art of ageing. The winery stayed family owned until 1966 when Ramon Bilbao Pozo, last of the descendants, died. In 1999 the winery was acquired by the family business of Diego Zamora, one of the largest beverage group in Spain. the winery got renovated, with new facilities and top-quality wines were produced thanks to a great combination of innovation and tradition of la Rioja Alta. Ramon Bilbao produces fruit driven styles as well as oaky wines, coming from the best estates and vineyard and with oak barrels from the best oak from European and American forests. Ramon Bilbao has been awarded the Best Spanish Winey prize in 2014 by the IWSC.

Fermentation takes place in steel tanks where temperatures go up to 28 -29º and quick devatting, once the colour extraction (tannins and anthocyanins) is at the optimum level. 25% of the wine is aged for 12 months in 4-year-old American oak casks. The wine is ruby red in colour, with a moderate to high colour intensity. Clean, bright wine with evident tears. The nose is clean, with highly intense aromas and rich in nuances. Notes of red and black fruit, hints of liquorice, menthol aromas balanced with aromas from the barrel-ageing process (biscuit, nutmeg, cinnamon).