Bryan MacRobert hails from South Africa, where he was assistant winemaker to renowned Swartland producer Eben Sadie before making his own exquisite range of wines. He and his Spanish wife Clara, however, now live in Logroño, where he made his first vintage of Laventura in 2013. One of a new breed of winemakers putting more emphasis on terroir and fresher, elegant wines in a region where the grand bodega and barrels still rule, Bryan's wines are already causing quite a stir and are some of the most thrilling bottles to come out of this traditional region in many a year.
The red is mostly Tempranillo, a grape Bryan believes should be treated more gently in this relatively cool climate (see the snowy vineyard below). Old vines planted over 60 years ago in Rioja Alavesa. This is so elegant, with a floral aroma and fresh figs, paler in colour than many Rioja reds, bright & striking fruit, fresh acidity and minerality.

 

Rioja | SPAIN

Tempranillo 80% | Garnacha 20%