Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninmedium
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishmedium
Oakoak aged

Drinking window

Latest scored vintage 2018: best 2022 to 2033.

vintage4 yrs15 yrs17 yrs

Critic scores

CriticVintageScore
Tim Atkin reviewed 2022201889/100

Scores as published by each critic for the vintage shown.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedMedium tanninHigh acidityDryMedium finish

Aroma: red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, cedar

Palate: red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury

A balanced, savoury Reserva from the Haro house: classic oak spice over fresh Tempranillo, a dependable value Rioja.

What it pairs with

With cheese

How to serve Ramon Bilbao Reserva

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. 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 Ramon Bilbao Reserva is the house's core classic red.

  1. 1924Bodegas Ramon Bilbao founded at Haro

Facts

Producer
Bodegas Ramon Bilbao · visiting guide
Grapes
Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (5%), Mazuelo (5%)
Classification
DOCa Rioja
Oak
Around 20 months in oak
ABV
14.0%
Price
EUR 12 to 18 at retail
Drinking window
4 to 15 from vintage
First vintage
1924

Frequently asked about Ramon Bilbao Reserva

What does Ramon Bilbao Reserva taste like?

On the nose, red cherry, vanilla, dried herb, cedar. On the palate, red fruit, sweet spice, fine tannin, savoury. Structurally medium-bodied, medium tannins, high acidity with a medium finish. A balanced, savoury Reserva from the Haro house: classic oak spice over fresh Tempranillo, a dependable value Rioja.

When should I drink Ramon Bilbao Reserva?

Drink 4 to 15 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Ramon Bilbao 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 Ramon Bilbao 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 Ramon Bilbao Reserva?

The blend is Tempranillo (90%), Graciano (5%), Mazuelo (5%). The wine is classified as DOCa Rioja.

Tags

Taste it where it is made: tastings near Bodegas Ramon Bilbao

La Rioja: Guided Bike Tour

Starts 17 km awayGuided tour3.5 hours4.9 from 27 reviewsfrom €75

Discover the natural landscape of Ezcaray. Visit the hidden gems wineries of La Rioja. Explore where the Spanish Language born in San Millan. Feel like a pilgrim doing...

Wine tastings and winery visits in Rioja (14) · Wine tours and day trips in Rioja (13)

See all 59 bookable experiences in Rioja

← Back to wines in Rioja