Miguel Merino, Loma, Rioja 2019

The 2019 La Loma is a single-vineyard wine from the plot in the southwest of Briones that gives the wine its name, 1.46 hectares planted in 1946 with Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha (the vineyard has both red and white Garnacha, but the white goes to the Blanco) on red marl soils. The change is that the élevage is now in 100% 500-liter barrels (bocoyes) for 12 months. The varieties are nicely integrated, and it's perfumed and elegant, powerful and ripe (14% alcohol) without excess, but very balanced. It's medium to full-bodied with fine tannins. 2,186 bottles were filled in March 2021.

• Drinking Window: 2022 - 2028
• Reviewer Name: Luis Gutierrez
• Review Date: July 2022