Lacrimus Rioja is the brainchild of Javier Rodriquez, one of the new generation of Spanish 'flying winemakers' (though he mostly drives!) in partnership with Bodegas Sendero Royal in the Rioja Baja region.  This excellent wine has been barrel fermented in French oak as opposed to the traditional American oak.  Nevertheless Javier has managed to create a modern style Rioja while maintaining the traditional profile of the Riojas we all know so well.

White Rioja is now available - Javier uses an ingenious fermentation vessel called a boxtank (metal framed, with replaceable wooden walls, yet temperature controlled) - from which he has teased wonderful aromatics from the normally dreary Viura grape - the wine is a real revelation.  The secret of the boxtank is that it permits low levels of oxidation during the production process which proves to be a great benefit to this variety.

In the range of reds, there's a Lacrimus Rex, (a blend of Garnacha and Graciano) and an organic, so lots going on. Keep tuned in for further developments.