José Luis Ripa Sáenz de Navarrete is intimately familiar with the history and winemaking of Rioja – he is married to Maria José López de Heredia, after all. Despite being closely involved with his wife’s legendary fourth-generation winery for decades, only recently has he tried his own hand at a winemaking project, focusing on late release Rioja Rosado. Much like the rare López de Heredia rosado, the Ripa Rosado ages for several years before release — an anomaly in the wine world, where most rosé is rushed onto market while still young. The 2020 release is 70% Grenache and 30% Tempranillo sourced from two plots of 30+-year-old bush vines in Rioja Alta. After destemming, the grapes are placed in stainless steel vats and allowed to macerate for about 24 hours to extract color. The wine then ferments in 500-liter French oak used casks and ages for 30+ months before bottling. Medium onion-skin in color, this is a serious style of rosado that defies what the category is capable of. More savory than fruity, the extended aging leads to fascinating aromas and incredible texture on the palate.