Javier San Pedro Rioja Arca de Asa is a magical single vineyard wine made from grapes grown in a small 0.93-hectare vineyard which was planted in 1942. The vineyard was original owned by Javier’s wife’s grandmother and is in Lanciego, which makes it Javier’s only wine that is from outside of Laguardia. The vineyard sits 100 meters lower in altitude than those in Laguardia and the soils contain a higher clay content. The wine has remarkable finesse, tension and elegance. Dark red fruits and black pepper notes dominate with touches of black fruit, dark cherry and Asian spice. The wine is wonderfully balanced, fresh and displays floral touches on the finish. World class wine.

I was introduced to Javier by our mutual friend Leon who makes, along with his wife Sara, the excellent Latido wines. He told me that I had to try these Rioja’s made by Javier and used every wine cliché under the sun to try and persuade me. “New Wave Rioja” “Best up and coming wine maker” “Terroir driven” “Modern interpretation of a classic” etc etc. Before I could escape, Javier was towering over me. He’s tall and athletic, not intimidating but instantly likeable and full to bursting point with another cliché “Passion” for his wines.

Javier was born into a winemaking family at Bodegas Vallobera, based in Laguardia in the Rioja Alavesa and learned from both his grandfather and father before making his first wine aged 17. In 2013 he moved away from his family’s traditional styles to create his own project, Bodegas Javier San Pedro Ortega. The Viuda Negra range focuses on old vineyard plots that have either been restored or replanted. It was clear from my first tasting that Javier was talented and his wines were as captivating as the man himself. They perfectly highlight the beauty and diversity of Rioja and show where the area is heading with a modern approach to terroir rather than age statements.