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The Outstanding Latest Releases from Miguel Merino | Rioja’s Brightest Star

The incredible levels of purity, elegance, depth and complexity reached at Miguel Merino have always been notable amongst their peers in Spain’s most famous wine-producing region. Touching new heights, Merino’s latest releases are a masterclass in Rioja and should not be missed, by anyone.

Named Tim Atkin’s ‘Rioja Legend’ in 2021, Miguel Merino Snr deservedly built a reputation as one of Rioja’s brightest stars. Establishing the family winery in a restored farmhouse in the mid-1990s, Merino has come a long way since, recently joining the acclaimed ranks of Rioja’s First Growths. The classification is updated annually by Master of Wine Tim Atkin and ranks the producers of Rioja, placing Merino in the top tier alongside 19 other Bodegas, including Contador, Muga, La Rioja Alta and López de Heredia.

Following Miguel Merino Senior’s sad passing in 2021, Miguel Junior has carried on the great work his father started, earning no less than three ‘Wines Of The Year’ accolades in Tim Atkin’s 2023 Rioja report, further cementing the Bodegas’ position as one of Rioja’s most exciting producers.  

‘There is a generational change at Miguel Merino, as Miguel Merino Jr. returned home in 2016 to join his father, after more than 10 years away from the family winery. I found wines cleaner than ever and an improved range that got me excited… The quality has gone up tremendously.’
Luis Gutiérrez, The Wine Advocate

Grapes are meticulously sourced from low yielding, old vine plots near Briones, in the heart of Rioja Alta. Miguel Senior’s skills in finding small, overlooked and ultra high-quality vineyards has led to the creation of some of Rioja’s most highly prized single vineyard wines with Vitola, La Loma and most recently La Ínsula. The wines from this small bodega are highly sought after and strictly allocated with just 40,000 bottles produced across the range.

 ‘Rioja is making the best red wines in its history. Now it’s time to shout about them… new wave wines that owe more to Burgundy than Bordeaux. Step forward Miguel Merino’s La Quinta Cruz Mazuelo and La Loma.’
Tim Atkin MW

Davy’s are delighted to have been the UK exclusive importers of Miguel’s wines for many years now. We are pleased to offer the latest wines from this stunning producer and I implore you to fill the cellar while availability lasts.

Production of each cuvee is tiny and deserving of your attention: the sensational Rioja Blanco is drinking beautifully now and makes an amazing alternative to top level white Burgundy. I cannot recommend the young vine Jóvenes highly enough, punching well above the price tag and whose grapes will eventually make the grade for the Reserva wines – this is an absolute steal from Merino, and magnum format makes it an exciting dinner party option too. Vitola Reserva is a beautiful Tempranillo and Graciano blend, showing depth, freshness and balance, from vines on northwest facing slopes planted in the seventies. The Reserva is an outstanding example of balance and harmony, with regal elegance which belies the power and complexity of this wine. La Quinta Cruz is the only single vineyard example of 100% Mazuelo in Rioja – beautifully fresh and showing intense concentration of fruit.

Tim Atkin’s 2022 ‘Red Wine Of The Year’ La Loma is from a tiny 1.4 hectare vineyard – incredibly balanced and with beautifully-defined fruit – a wine Tim Atkin calls a ‘remarkable cuvée of Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha’.

La Ínsula is from a tiny spot planted with ungrafted Garnacha before the Phylloxera attack of the end of the XIX Century. Production is miniscule and the wine will be allocated via ballot, which is automatically entered following purchases of 24 bottles or more from the below. Already something of a unicorn wine, Tim Atkin calls the second vintage of La Ínsula ‘another triumph from this brilliant bodega’, which will be impossible to find in the future.

Contact our fine wine team at privatecellars@davy.co.uk to enquire about securing these wines.

Offered under bond (exclusive of duty, VAT & onward delivery) and subject to remaining unsold. Offered under bond. Price shown is for one case and excludes UK duty and VAT which will be charged at the prevailing rate when the wine is released from bond. Onward delivery from bond charges are not included, free delivery on orders above £150 does not apply. Please see full storage and delivery details here.