🏰 The 2020 Yjar is a wine of exquisite detail from Telmo Rodríguez's projects, located in the foothills of the Sierra de Toloño. It's a single-vineyard wine from a 3.8-hectare plot with a field blend of indigenous varieties like Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, Granegro, and Rojal. The 2020 vintage was challenging, with early rain and hail followed by a hot and dry summer, requiring intuition and rapid response from the winemakers. Telmo Rodríguez's philosophy focuses on recovering regions and rediscovering the essence of Rioja. The nose is wonderfully refined with notes of peppery spice, tobacco, and wet stone, slowly unfurling in the glass. It develops very floral notes over time, making it aromatic, expressive, and elegant. The palate is similarly precise in its texture, with layer upon layer of dark fruit and cassis, leading to a long, linear finish. It's elegant and clean, with a seamless palate, very fine tannins, and a vibrant mouthfeel. Flavors include dark berries, black cherries, baking spice, incense, graphite, crystalline raspberry, and cranberry fruit. It has considerable density and impact, especially on the finish, with dusty and abundant tannins. 🥂 The 2020 Yjar is a compelling wine that can be enjoyed from 2025 but has the potential to age for 20 plus years. It's a jewel of a wine, perfect for a special occasion, a serious wine tasting, or as a prized addition to a cellar. 🍴 Rioja red wines pair well with roasted lamb, beef, game, and cured meats. The wine's complex dark fruit, spice, and mineral notes would complement dishes like slow-cooked oxtail, grilled Iberico pork, or mature Manchego cheese. 【A single-vineyard jewel from Telmo Rodríguez, showcasing the finesse of marl soils and austerity of stones】