2022 Juan Carlos Sancha "Ad Libitum" Tinto

While you are likely no stranger to the wines of Rioja, have you ever had a wine made with 100% Maturana Tinta from this celebrated region? If the answer is no, we’re not surprised! Known more commonly as Trousseau (in the Jura in France) or Bastardo (in Portugal where it is often blended into Port wine), this grape is a true rarity in Rioja, and it might have disappeared from the area completely if not for the efforts of Juan Carlos Sancha. Not only a winemaker, Juan Carlos Sancha teaches Oenology at the University of La Rioja, and has been rescuing and championing fringe varieties planted in Rioja like Maturana Tinta, Maturana Blanca, and Tempranillo Blanca. This particular wine is fermented and aged in large 500 liter French oak barrels (don’t expect that overly vanilla, coconut flavors some Riojas aged in American oak sometimes get). The resulting wine certainly comes across as Rioja, yet at the same time, there’s something a little different going on here. Minerality? Earthiness? Freshness? All here. Perfect for your lamb dish or a hunk of manchego? For sure. Something is just a little different though! Embrace it!