Couple of weeks ago, Tim Atkin MW unveiled his highly anticipated 2024 Rioja report, offering a comprehensive insight into the region’s finest wines. La Loma and Miguel Merino Navajas particularly shone in this year’s evaluation, earning outstanding accolades, including a perfect score of 100 points.
Watch Tim Atkin Explain How La Loma Earned 100 Points: La Loma 2021
Below, we present the remarkable wines from our esteemed producers Bodega Miguel Merino and Bodegas de la Marquesa:
Reds
2021 Miguel Merino La Loma – 100 points
Red wine of the Year
“”The spirit of my father” how Miguel Merino describes this wine, made in the year in which the founder of this small Briones bodega passed away. I’m sure Miguel Senior would have been proud of this wine and the deservedly high score it has achieved. Showcasing a remarkable vineyard planted in 1946, this is a graceful pairing of Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, showing subtle reduction, understated grip and tannins, blood orange and bramble flavours, a breath of oak spices and incredible elegance and precision. Perfection. 2025-32”
2021 Miguel Merino Mazuelo de la Quinta Cruz – 98 points
Listed as one of the Reds of the Year
“Is Mazuelo, otherwise known as Carignan, capable of finesse? In the right hands it is. This remarkable example comes from a 1.4-hectare parcel that was planted in 1986 and is remarkably bright and ethereal. Pomegranate, wild strawberry and pink grapefruit flavours are embellished by silky tannins, subtle reduction and vivid acidity. The essence of the new, terroir-focused Rioja. 2025-32”
2021 Miguel Merino La Ínsula – 95 points
Listed as one of the Reds of the Year
Thanks to wines like this, Miguel Merino has quietly but comparatively quickly moved into the front rank of Rioja producers. Made with Garnacha grapes from a very old, 0.1-hectare vineyard next to the Ebro river, this is fresh, yet slightly ferrous and bloody, with sculpted tannins, succulent summer berry fruit and a whisper of oak. 2024-30
2016 Bodegas de la Marquesa Valserrano Gran Reserva – 94 points
“Still youthful after nearly eight years in barrel and bottle, this textbook Gran Reserva is a blend of Tempranillo with 10% Graciano for structure. Sweetly oaked in French and American barrels, it has understated concentration, savoury tannins, pomegranate acidity and layers of plum. blackberry and stony reduction. 2025-35”
2018 Miguel Merino Gran Reserva – 94 points
“Part of the wholesale changes that have taken place at this excellent bodega in the last few years, this Gran Reserva has shifted in style away from oak sweetness towards fruit and freshness, even in a six-year-old wine. Partnering Tempranillo with 5% Graciano, it has patisserie and sweet spice aromas, layered tannins and subtle raspberry and wild strawberry fruit. 2024-30”
2018 Miguel Merino Reserva – 94 points
“There used to be a marked difference between Miguel Merino’s Reserva and Gran Reserva wines and his more modern Genérico releases, but not anymore. Sourced mostly from parcels on sandy soils, it’s a blend of Tempranillo and 5% Graciano with refined tannins, subtle 85% new wood, notes of cinnamon and summer pudding and a lingering finish. 2024-28”
2018 Bodegas de la Marquesa Valserrano Reserva – 93 points
“One of those wines that you could tuck away for a while as well as drink now, this Reserva combines Tempranillo and 10% Graciano grapes from four different parcels in Villabuena. Elegant and savoury, it has sweet, spicy American and 40% French oak, refined tannins and plum, raspberry and pomegranate fruit. 2024-35”
2019 Miguel Merino Vitola Reserva – 93 points
“Vitola hails from cooler, north-facing vineyards and is an assemblage of Tempranillo and 5% Graciano. Curated in 25% new wood, it’s more of a classic style from Miguel Merino but still shows his gentle touch in the winery. Silky tannins frame a palate of succulent red berry fruits, a hint of black cherry and a patina of Asian spices. 2024-30”
2021 Miguel Merino Viñas Jóvenes – 92 points
“Two main vineyards, planted in 2001 and 2010, are the principal components of this “young vine” cuvée of Tempranillo and 8% Graciano. Forward and fruity, with very little wood, supple, caressing tannins, graceful raspberry and wild strawberry fruit and balancing acidity. A Rioja for Pinot Noir lovers. 2024-29”
2019 Bodegas de la Marquesa Valserrano Crianza – 91 points
“A wine that straddles the border between modern and traditional styles, this well-judged Crianza pairs Tempranillo and 10% Mazuelo, with ageing in American and 20% French oak. Juicy and floral, it has vanilla pod and rose petal aromas and a palate of bramble and sweet red fruits. 2024-29”
Whites
2019 Bodegas de la Marquesa Valserrano Blanco Gran Reserva – 94 points
“There’s been a slight shift in style on this wine, which now features 10% Chardonnay alongside 5% Malvasía and its Viura base. Fermented and aged for 18 months in new French oak, it’s a fine, nuanced, well-balanced white with citrus, quince and banana flavours, stylish oak and baking spice undertones. 2025-32”
2022 Miguel Merino Blanco – 94 points
“Miguel Merino makes this exceptional white from an equal mix of Viura and Garnacha Blanca, both sourced from old-vine parcels in Briones. Gently wooded in 500-litre barrels, it’s a wine that’s inspired by white Burgundy, with struck match reduction, layers of lime, citrus and lanolin, and a persistent finish. 2024-30”
2021 Miguel Merino Blanco – 93 points
“One of two vintages of the bodega’s white that are currently on the market, this partners Garnacha Blanca from the La Loma vineyard with various parcels of Viura. Slightly less fine than the 2022 release, surprisingly perhaps, this is greener and a little tarter, with notes of quince and greengage and nuanced oak. 2024-28”
2022 Bodegas de la Marquesa Valserrano Blanco Barrica – 90 points
“Great value from the De Simón family, this stylishly wooded white partners Viura with 5% Malvasía from three parcels in Villabuena. Apple, pear and citrus flavours are framed by scented new French oak. Comparatively forward stuff from a warmer year. 2024-26”
To access the full report by Tim Atkin MW, buy it here.