2020 Rioja Tinto 'Ganko', Olivier Rivière
The 2019 Ganko is a village wine from old vines in Cárdenas, 90% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo (Cariñena), with 14.5% alcohol and the ripeness of the vintage. The grapes were picked and fermented together with 20% full clusters, and the wine matured in 600-liter oak barrels for 12 months and a further 16 months in oak foudre. I liked it very much. I found it clean, precise and balanced, a little shy on the nose but beautifully textured, with a dry, long and chalky finish. This has had a longer élevage than in the past, and that helps stabilize the wine and makes it more complex and stable. This is deeper and more complex than the initial vintages of this wine, more serious. The vines are now handled by Rivière, and he says he notices it in the wines. It was bottled in February 2032
95/100 Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate July 2022
In just 10 years Olivier has established himself as one of Spain's most revered winemakers. His wines have rapidly become amongst Spain's most sought-after, with all of the top restaurants and "in the know" collectors seeking them. Only small quantities are made, and in some instances tiny quantities...
We have had a great response to Olivier Rivière’s small production of Rioja and Arlanza wines since we first introduced them some years ago. I met first Olivier in Deauville, France where he was showing his wines at a wine fair that featured may producers that I was interested in. I had heard great things about his wines and was very keen to work with Spanish wine. Needless to say I wanted the wines to be good but I loved them! I gave him an order on the spot and we haven’t looked back.
It's hard to put you finger on what makes these wines great. All the wines have lovely balance and a purity of fruit that I rarely see. Most of all though they have superfine texture and cashmere-like tannins - they can be full bodied but are very lithe and incredibly drinkable!
95/100 Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate July 2022
In just 10 years Olivier has established himself as one of Spain's most revered winemakers. His wines have rapidly become amongst Spain's most sought-after, with all of the top restaurants and "in the know" collectors seeking them. Only small quantities are made, and in some instances tiny quantities...
We have had a great response to Olivier Rivière’s small production of Rioja and Arlanza wines since we first introduced them some years ago. I met first Olivier in Deauville, France where he was showing his wines at a wine fair that featured may producers that I was interested in. I had heard great things about his wines and was very keen to work with Spanish wine. Needless to say I wanted the wines to be good but I loved them! I gave him an order on the spot and we haven’t looked back.
It's hard to put you finger on what makes these wines great. All the wines have lovely balance and a purity of fruit that I rarely see. Most of all though they have superfine texture and cashmere-like tannins - they can be full bodied but are very lithe and incredibly drinkable!
