In the glass
Aroma: red and black cherry, vanilla, cedar, dried herb
Palate: ripe red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury
A pure-Tempranillo Reserva from the Calatrava-designed Alavesa estate: ripe, polished and balanced, a modern-classic Rioja with the house's vineyard focus.
What it pairs with
-
Cordero asado al sarmiento
Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat. -
Chuleton de buey a la brasa
Find chuleton de buey a la brasa on TableJourney →
A thick aged-beef chop over embers meets the wine's savoury oak and grip. -
Jamon iberico
Cured Iberian ham echoes the wine's dried-cherry and leather register.
How to serve Ysios Reserva
Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Cordero asado al sarmiento, Chuleton de buey a la brasa, Jamon iberico. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The Ysios Reserva is the estate's core wine, a pure-Tempranillo Reserva launched with the landmark cellar in 2001.
- 2001 — Estate and Reserva launched in the Calatrava cellar
Facts
- Producer
- Bodegas Ysios
- Grapes
- Tempranillo (100%)
- Classification
- DOCa Rioja
- Oak
- Around 18 months in French and American oak
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 18 to 30 at retail
- Drinking window
- 5 to 18 from vintage
- First vintage
- 2001
Scores
- Tim Atkin 91 (2017 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Ysios Reserva
What does Ysios Reserva taste like?
On the nose, red and black cherry, vanilla, cedar, dried herb. On the palate, ripe red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a long finish. A pure-Tempranillo Reserva from the Calatrava-designed Alavesa estate: ripe, polished and balanced, a modern-classic Rioja with the house's vineyard focus.
When should I drink Ysios Reserva?
Drink 5 to 18 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Ysios Reserva?
Cordero asado al sarmiento is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Chuleton de buey a la brasa and Jamon iberico. Vine-shoot-roasted suckling lamb is the canonical Rioja match; the wine's resolved tannins frame the sweet fat.
Is Ysios Reserva vegan?
No: the producer uses traditional animal-derived fining agents (typically egg whites or isinglass) during clarification, so the wine is not vegan.
What grapes are in Ysios Reserva?
The blend is Tempranillo (100%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.