Great thread with lots of varied inputs!
- I’m in the camp that is lukewarm toward Lopez de Heredia’s style. I’ve been buying/drinking their wines off and on over the decades, but it just doesn’t really move me. When we have panel tastings - admittedly infrequently for Spain/Rioja - LdH bottlings are often the ones left unfinished. Even among a group of oenophiles, they can be too severe/strict for some tasters. Try them and see what you think, of course.
- My counsel would be to try the group of the large production, well distributed centenary bodegas since those are easier to find, and would better explain your preferences to others since those are tasting touchstones, as you seek out new/interesting/differentiated bottlings. Perhaps extend the style spectrum too, to see what other expressions are being made. Murrietta, Riscal, Muga, CVNE, LdH, La Rioja Alta, Faustino would be names to consider.
- There has been tension/changes around nomenclature, but I think if you started with a reservas from the above, it would be a good grounding. The political / economic fights at the reguladores may be more about preserving the leverage various stakeholders have, versus something that improves the situation for the end consumer.
- Every market environment is local of course, but over the last several years, I see less Rioja of interest on physical shelves. Campo Viejo has cruelly shouldered aside so many other names. Perhaps that’s the overall wine market malaise, but it could also be shifting preferences. It pains me to give Total Wine any plaudits, but they are one of the few merchants which have kept shelf space allocated to region, and have a tasting view. They carry the well known bodegas I mention above, along with their own direct names, which often look like selections from Guaia Penin, a Spanish wine guide.
- Additionally, there are all kinds of merchants direct importing their own selections now - I have enjoyed lesser known names from K&L, WineAccess, Garagiste etc. There are some 800 wineries in the region, and most do not enjoy broad US recognition or sales. So there are still opportunities for importers to add value. I grant that this can be region dependent, as well as if you are able to get wine shipped.
- Perhaps if you grow enamored of the wines, you might look for more information on the region, and I would recommend this older book, reviewed here. Used copies should go for a song, so you can put the savings toward a 2010 or 2016 GR.
Enjoy the journey!