Bodegas Amézola de la Mora
(Rioja/Spain)
Bodegas Amézola de la Mora, established in the mid-19th Century, is one of Rioja’s oldest and finest wine estates. Restored in the early 1980s by brothers Iñigo and Javier Amézola, this estate is extremely unusual (for Rioja) in that it owns all of its vines. The estate encompasses 60 ha of mature vines overlooking the confluence of the Najerilla and Ebro Rivers in the heart of Rioja Alta. It is also unusual for the diversity it contains within close geographical proximity—from chalky-clay vineyard terraces at the summit of Cerro San Quiles to limestone and gravelly parcels over 100 metres below.
The late-ripening Graciano is planted in low-lying limestone where relative warmth accelerates grape maturation, while the early-ripening Tempranillo achieves its optimum concentration and acidity in the fresher and more ventilated high parcels. Following the tragic death of their winemaker father, Iñigo’s daughters María and Cristina have guided the property, capably assisted by winemaking consultant Georges Pauli, who served previously as head enologist at Château Gruaud-Larose and other fine French estates. At the time the sisters took over the winery they were the youngest wine-producers in Rioja.
Despite their youth, their enthusiasm and high diligence to producing wines of the highest quality have since earned them huge respect amongst their peers and wine aficionados. The prestigious and influential wine critic Robert M. Parker, recently classified Rioja’s Iñigo Amézola (92pts) and Viña Amézola (90pts) as “outstanding”.
