Vineyards and winemaking
Ontañón Reserva 2015 combines 95% Tempranillo with 5% Graciano from prized sites in eastern Rioja. These include La Pasada in the Sierra de Yerga, planted at around 800 metres, together with a lower vineyard at the foot of Monte Yerga. The contrast in altitude and the area's clay-limestone soils brings ripe fruit, fragrance and balancing freshness.
After temperature-controlled fermentation, the wine was matured for 24 months in French and American oak barrels and then rested further in bottle before release. Tempranillo supplies the generous fruit and supple structure, while the small proportion of Graciano contributes lift, spice and longevity.
Tasting notes
Appearance
Clear garnet-red with a deep ruby core and gently evolved edge.
Nose
Blackberry compote, plum and dried cherry are layered with violet, clove, tobacco and a measured touch of vanilla and coconut from the oak.
Palate
Generous but finely balanced, with dark fruit, savoury earth and balsamic freshness carried by smooth, settled tannins. Notes of cedar, cocoa and pepper add complexity without overwhelming the fruit, and the finish is long, mineral and subtly spicy.
Food pairing
An assured partner for roast leg of lamb with rosemary, pork cheeks braised in cider, wild mushroom risotto, or an aged farmhouse Cheddar. Serve at around 17°C and allow a little time in the glass for the savoury detail to emerge.
Background story
The Pérez Cuevas family has cultivated vineyards around Quel for generations, with Gabriel Pérez developing the family's own wine estate in the early 1970s. Ontañón remains family owned and draws on high-lying sites in the Sierra de Yerga to create Rioja with both ripeness and definition.
Wine and art meet throughout Ontañón's identity: its Logroño winery is conceived as a temple to wine and filled with works inspired by classical mythology. The 2015 Reserva reflects the same balance of tradition and expression, combining Rioja's established barrel-ageing culture with fruit from distinctive estate vineyards.
