"Located in the heart of Rioja Baja in the town of Alfaro, Bodegas Ilurce is owned and operated by the fourth generation of the Escudero family. The family has grown grapes in Rioja Baja since 1940, and the current generation takes advantage of a wealth of 60Ha. of vineyards that are planted in alluvial soils on the slopes of the Monte Yerga. The vines range from century old head trained Garnacha to high density plantings of Graciano and Tempranillo planted in alluvial, limestone heavy soils with a high abundance of stones. Located at high altitudes, 2000 ft. (600m) above sea level, the vineyards take advantage of very cold winters and nights, combined with warm summers – perfect conditions for the maturation of Graciano, perhaps the estate's most important treasure.Jorge Ordóñez partnered with Bodegas Ilurce after he set a goal to produce and import a 100% Graciano wine. Graciano, a variety is most often used for blending in Rioja to improve Tempranillo, is heavily planted in Rioja Baja, as it is very challenging to ripen this grape in cooler Rioja Alta. Due to its long vegetative cycle and slow maturation, Graciano, like Garnacha, requires a warmer climate to ripen. For that reason, Ordóñez and his team travelled to Rioja Baja to find a producer to partner with. At the time, the few monovarietal Graciano wines were either very expensive or very low quality, so Jorge sought to produce a high quality, price accessible Graciano for the American market. Jorge achieved this with Rio Madre Graciano, a wine that has been a blockbuster success in the United States, as it represents incredible quality for an entry level Rioja."
Tim Atkin 91 The grapes are sorted at the winery after the harvest. The color is extracted by a light saignée. Temperature controlled fermentation in stainless
James Suckling 91 “Blackberries, blueberries and black cherries with some dried-fruit undertones. Full-bodied with slightly chewy tannins and a fresh finish.”
This old-school rosado shows a deep color and rich flavors of black cherry, macerated strawberry, licorice and spice. Firm acidity and light tannins give this
A hot-pink color and punchy aromas of citrus and red fruits make for a bright opening. In its current youthful state, this feels healthy and
Wine Advocate 88 "The best of the reds is undeniably the 2015 Rio Madre Tempranillo from Rioja that is 100% Tempranillo aged ten months in French
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